I have been blazing through the Orphan X series loving every minute! Evan Smoak was taken from his foster home and trained as an elite assassin for a covert government operation and then left the program when his conscience demanded it. Now Evan operates as The Nowhere Man helping the helpless when they have nowhere else to turn. In Dark Horse the case is a little different since Aragon Urrea isn’t a completely good man either. However, his eighteen-year-old daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless and violent drug cartel and he’s desperate to get her back.

Dark Horse, like the previous installments was exciting and action-packed! Evan gets himself through seemingly impossible situations, always coming out on top, but I wondered how he’d pull off this mission since the drug cartel was a scary bunch of crazies!

Through all the books we’ve seen Evan help the helpless, champion the underdog, all while he navigates life out of the Orphan program. Despite trying to remain separate he’s established connections and I’ve loved seeing them evolve and grow through the series. Tommy his weapons/gun supplier, Joey the young cast-off from the Orphan program, and of course Mia and Peter from 12B. Evan’s relationship with Mia is at times confusing to Evan, her life is so full and messy with her nine-year-old son, Peter, but Evan can’t help but be drawn in by her. I have to laugh at Evan’s “exchanges” with Vera II and III, his aloe vera plants! Yes, there are bits of dry humor here and there that have me cracking up.

Each of the Orphan books has a mission/problem that solved, but the repercussions of Evan’s decision to leave the Orphan program and his relationships are ongoing and progressive, so I think it’s best to start the series from the beginning.

From the first book I’ve been “reading” by audio. Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator, bringing Evan to life. He IS Evan Smoak to me even now. His female voices and accents are spot on, and his comedic timing is wonderful! I listen at my normal 1.5x-1.75x normal speed.

Another fantastic Orphan X book. This adventure pushes Evan to his limits physically, mentally, and emotionally as he wrestles with his commandments, moral code, and relationships he has developed. His growth as a person shines through as he continues to find new meaning in his life. I always enjoy the Joey / X relationship and banter but would love to have seen a little more of it in the book. It was definitely a treat to see him interact with Mia's family and to see him continue to bond with Peter. Highly recommend this one

Masterful. Every Orphan X novel seems better than the one before it. This one hit all the right notes. I laughed out loud several times, stayed up late to keep reading, and got choked up at the end. Highly recommended.

Evan, The Nowhere Man or Orphan X, has been asked to find the 18 year old daughter of a major drug lord. She is missing and presumed kidnapped. But, as Evan begins to penetrate the cartel, he realizes there is more to this than he first thought.

I have been a fan of Ophan X or Evan since the very beginning. He just keeps getting better and better. He knows he has limitations in the “feelings” department but the reader just can’t help but know he is one of the good guys. This book brings out all of his strengths and weaknesses. I fell for him all over again.

This story had me cringing, gasping and wringing my hands. Plus, the narrator is one of my favorites, Scott Brick. He has an outstandingly deep voice. He is the perfect voice for Evan.

This is the best Orphan X Book yet! Usually by now, I am bored with a series. But this book was over the top! You can read this as a stand alone, but there is not much of a back story for Evan in this one. So, I do recommend reading some of the others first, just to get a feel about Evan. He is a special breed!

I would love to see this made into a tv series. This would be an amazing to binge watch!

Need a fantastic shoot’em up thriller which will have you in the edge of your seat…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

🎉 Happy Pub Week to DARK HORSE and thank you to @macmillan.audio for this ALC.

Total disclosure here - I had not read any of the Orphan X series, so I had never met Evan Smoak. So this man - a trained killer with many former identities and a very dark past was really a mystery to me!

As Evan sets out on a mission to infiltrate a dangerous drug cartel, he has to make a decision whether to help the daughter of one of the “bad guys.” In many instances, I started to get the sense that Evan is not just a robotic, cold-hearted killer - he has a heart. But then again I’m just getting to know him. 😉

Be warned, there is a lot of violence in here. But I’m certainly going to recommend this series to my husband and others, and I may backtrack to find out what makes Evan tick.

This review is for the audible version of Dark Horse…..I am a huge fan of Orphan X, The Nowhere Man, by Gregg Hurwitz and have listened to all the books on Audible. This book is my new favorite as are all of them when I am listening to them. Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator and the way he reads the books with such intensity makes the book just so exciting. In this story Evan gets involved with the cartels of Mexico, having received “the” phone call from one of the cartel leaders whose daughter has been kidnapped by a rival cartel. Evan, very reluctantly, agrees to help them and get his daughter back, but makes him get rid of the drugs that finance his operation. Meanwhile between Joey and Mia and Peter, life is unsettling for Evan. Another wonderful story and now i am sad that i will have to wait another year for the next one. Although there are several books in this series, each can be read as a standalone.

This was an interesting story that keeps on going. The audio book was nicely presented and easy to listen to. Not my regular type of reading but I did enjoy it. As many of this type of books I consider the action in the story to be a bit over the top. The plot is plausible, action packed and some scenes are pretty gruesome.
This been the first book I read from the series I did miss not knowing some of the background of Evan Smoak, his sidekick the computer nerd and his neighbor Mia Hall. So even so it can be read as a standalone I think you would benefit by reading some of the other book in the series. It took me a while to determine if Evan was a good or bad guy and occasionally I was slightly confused.

𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦!

Action-packed from start to finish, this book was impossible to put down. I was a bit nervous because it is book 7 in the Orphan X series and I haven’t read the previous ones, but I had no trouble at all in following the story. I need to read more Evan Smoak.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.

Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz released yesterday February 8, 2022.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

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 also thought the narration was spot on.

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.

I loved the story and the narrator really brings Evan Smoak to life.

Just as things start to settle down and get back to normal for Evan, everything changes again.

When must you get in bed with the devil to fight evil? Can you discern the difference? Evan, the Nowhere Man, has his work cut out for him in his latest mission.

Highly recommended!

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.

<h4><strong>Narration:</strong></h4>
Scott Brick is a narrator I enjoy.  I am completely settled into his voices for the characters.  He does a nice differentiation with all the ages and locations.   I enjoyed his performance at my usual 1.5x speed.

<strong>Listen to a clip: </strong>
https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/dark-horse-by-gregg-hurwitz-audiobook-excerpt?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Dark Horse AUDIO by Gregg Hurwitz is part of the Orphan X series, which I have never read before. It is an amazing book, totally implausible, but featuring a deeply damaged man who is beginning to come out of the stupor generated by his earlier life and training. Evan Smoak helps people, whoever calls asking for help, get not only Evan but his amazing 16-year-old helper, Joey, who is a technological genius, although not always on the correct side of the law. She is part of the small group pushing Evan, the Nowhere Man, into humanity. Aragon Urrea is a drug kingpin, but he different than the others. He runs his holding like a small kingdom. He takes care of his people. He spends much of his money on doing good. He lives in a normal house, not an over-the-top mansion. And he's lost his daughter. Someone took her from her 18th birthday party. No demands have been made, but he is worried. He wants her back. Evan meets him at his compound; there is surprise after surprise in the several days he spends there.

This is not my normal book, this over-the-top thriller, but I loved it. I find books like this one are more accessible in the audio version than the print versions. Evan is a good man: odd but good. His OCD is manageable for short periods, but he longs to be back in his penthouse and its very controlled environment. He has eliminated options that cause stress and he is comfortable there. He can usually control his mind and body, willing pain away and pushing himself beyond normal limits. He has met Mia, a neighbor, and is gingerly experimenting with caring for her. She is very independent doesn't try to manage him, so it has a chance. He tends to be bossy and controlling, just ask Joey, who is growing into her independence. He is fascinating character. This is a wonderfully creative and enticing book.

Dark Horse is narrated by Scott Brick, who is the perfect choice to read this book. He reads with a light hand, not really differentiating between the dark and the light, but yet conveying the emotion and the stress of each situation. His voice lent just the proper air of authority to every interaction, to all characters.

I was invited to listen to a free e-audio version of Dark Horse by Macmillan Audio, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #macmillanaudio #gregghurwitz #darkhorse

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

I literally binned this entire series in a week, maybe five days? And I'm just as excited for the next book as I am the last book. I can't believe I slept on it this long

This audiobook was really good! While the synopsis sounded really good I was a bit nervous jumping in the middle of a series. However I had no trouble following along and now I really want to read/listen to the rest of the series.. starting from the beginning lol

This book is a thrilling suspenseful adventure with periods of sarcasm that had me laughing out loud. Also the narration was amazing and made me feel like I was in the middle of this job right along side Evan.

Evan is the nowhere man, trying to atone for things he has done in the past. When a man asks for his help finding his daughter who had been kidnapped. Evan isn't sure if he should take the job at first because this man he would be working for is not a good guy.. but is daughter is an innocent so Evan decides to take the job.. and turns out the man isn't the worst bad guy? in fact might just be a little bit likeable?
Its a good thing that Evan is so good at his job, because he has his work cut out for him this time.. (maybe lol not having read the other books, im not sure how hard this mission is compared to his others) Also his personal life is definitely getting in the way.. His girlfriend Mia is going through a real hard time at the moment, his friend/ collegue/ and more Joey is really mad at him and he has no idea how to fix it.
There are a whole bunch of twists and turns that I had no idea were coming, and it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see if / how Evan was going to resuce Angelina.. Especially when we find out what actually happened the day she was kidnapped.
I would absolutely listen to the audiobooks from this series, especially if they all have the same narrorator. I can't wait to go back and see how this series started, and how Evan gets from there to here.. I have a feeling hes come along way. ..

Dark Horse – Audiobook (An Orphan X novel) by Gregg Hurwitz

9781250252302

Narrator: Scott Brick
Length: 14 hours and 30 minutes
Publisher: Macmillian Audi
Release Date: February 8, 2022

Fiction (Adult), Drug Cartels, Kidnapping, Violence, Mercenary, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Evan Smoak was an assassin for the deep cover government Orphan program. He was selected from a foster home and trained as a child. Now he wants to atone for his sins by helping others that are in trouble. He is the Nowhere Man.

In the last book, Evan’s penthouse apartment was destroyed by an explosion. He literally flew from the 21st floor in a winged parachute. While finding laborers to rebuild the penthouse, he comes across a long man who tells him a story of a man that needs help. Evan gives him his telephone number to pass along.

When Anjelina Urrea is kidnapped from her eighteenth birthday party by a Mexican drug cartel, her father, Aragon, is distraught. The leader of a major drug operation in South Texas, Aragon blames himself. He is visited by the young man and gets the Nowhere Man’s phone number. Because of Aragon’s drug business, Evan must decide if he is worthy of help – something he has never done before.

This is the seventh book in the series. It is fast paced and written in the third person point of view. The characters are developed and of course, we see return appearances from Joey, Tommy, Mia, and Peter along with residents of Evan’s building. The book does end on There is a lot of violence in the book from what I would expect from drug cartels. I see Evan as a cross between Jason Bourne and the Equalizer. If you enjoy action books, you should give this book a try. I always look forward to the next installment in the Orphan X series. The narrator really brought the characters to life.

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.

As always, Scott Brick could read the phone book and I would listen to every word!


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.

#DarkHorse

“Señor Nowhere Man, No one measures up to a myth. But you come close”

I’ve been waiting for Evan Smoak/Drug Cartel crossover, and it was worth the wait. It was hard to cheer for the bad guys or the good guys, because everyone was at fault, or partially to blame. That ambiguity really solidified the theme in the Orphan X books, and I’m glad the series has continued.

Evan Smoak, Joey, Dog, Mia, and all the badassery of the series back better than ever. We all know I started this series because Duncan loves it so much, and now I’m invested. Scott Brick is back with the audio, and as always, hits the dry sense of humor and brutal scenes as natural as they come. I loved listening to the audio, and some of the scenes were very graphic played out on audio. That’s what I expect from this series, and it does make a bigger impact on audio.

Dark Horse is number 7 in the series, but I feel like this is the one that really tugged at my heart. It was really heart wrenching and was on the edge of my seat to hope Anjelina and Aragón would be reunited and have a happy…er ending. I didn’t want anything to happen to her and was waiting for the Evan Smoak save the day Batman signal to come down and Ed everyone up. The ending had me trying to turn more pages (and press play again) to try to magically make the next book in the series pop out because it left me on another great cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see what happens next! P.S. as this is a series, I do not recommend reading this as a standalone because you will need all the backstory.

Thank you so much @minotaur and @macmillanaudio for the gifted copy! Dark Horse is out 2/8

Dark Horse by Greg Hurwitz pulled me in from the very beginning. As a listener of the Orphan X books, I knew this would be one action packed adventure. Scott Brick does an amazing job performing the book too. Thank you #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for allowing me to listen and review. I loved the book