The Orphan X series has become the one series of books that I read ahead of any others in my collection. The character development is first class and as a reader I find myself really caring about them - the latest in the series is another huge leap forward emotionally, but still retains all the action you could need - I can’t recommend this enough. Gregg Hurwitz is definitely one of my favourite authors.

We follow Orphan X on another adventure and its full of twists.

Evan is back and helping the oddest person, a drug kingpin. His daughter went missing and the father is distraught. Even though it's a dangerous mission Evan is up for the challenge.

This book is full of twists, even some on the personal front. This series is one of my favorites and I can't wait for the next installment!!

I did do this as an audiobook, and I love that it's the same narrator as all the other books!! He tells a wonderful story and paints the best picture. Never change him.

#7 in the Orphan X series. Evan Smoak is back in action! At least, that's what I hear. I had no idea this was a series when I agreed to read it so coming into the series in the middle (end?) is not fun. I'm going to have to catch up on these books and get back to you. As a standalone, it was interesting and thrilling. But if you're not invested in the characters because you haven't read the rest of the books, I suggest starting at the beginning, with Orphan X, and working your way through.

Only going 3.5 stars because of the whole series debacle.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early mp3.*

3.5 stars

In this 7th book in the 'Orphan X' series, Evan Smoak has to infiltrate a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is beneficial.

*****

When Evan Smoak was a spindly twelve-year-old living in an orphanage, he was 'rescued' and placed in a black ops program that trained orphans to be highly skilled assassins. Evan was dubbed Orphan X.

After doing his assassin job for many years, Orphan X left the black ops program and set himself up as 'The Nowhere Man', a badass who helps people in trouble. When a person in dire straits is given Evan's number by a former client, the call goes to Evan's uber-encrypted RoamZone phone, which he answers with the phrase "Do you need my help?" The 'help' always involves Orphan X killing people, so it's frowned on by the authorities.

After being pursued by government operatives for years, Evan made a deal with President Victoria Donahue-Carr, who agreed to pardon Evan if he gave up being the Nowhere Man. But in a world full of people in trouble, Evan couldn't keep his word.

As the story opens Orphan X is refitting and upgrading his fortress penthouse after an explosion destroyed it. Evan is interrupted in the midst of this task by a phone call from Aragón Urrea, a drug lord in Eden, Texas, whose residents view him as a hero for helping the Eden community.

A weeping Urrea tells the Nowhere Man his 18-year-old daughter Anjelina - the light of his life - was abducted by a Mexican drug cartel run by the Familia León. The Leones are trying to infiltrate the American Southwest, and Urrea fears Anjelina was taken to give them leverage.

Orphan X is conflicted about helping a narcotics trafficker, but Anjelina is an innocent girl. So Evan agrees to help Urrea if the drug lord agrees to destroy a stash of drugs worth $160 million dollars.....and Urrea does it. Evan is assisted in the proposed rescue of Anjelina by his 16-year-old protégé Joey, a girl who can hack into any computer anywhere, including those in cartel headquarters. Joey is a rebellious spirit who loves Twizzlers, Red Bull, and her dog (named Dog).

Evan asks Joey to oversee his apartment's renovations while he's gone, and in one of the book's lighter moments, Evan comes home to find a disco ball and Velcro jumping wall installed in his living room. Joey and Peter - the 9-year-old son of Evan's neighbor Mia Hall - are in Velcro suits, throwing themselves against the jumping wall....much to Evan's dismay.

After making elaborate preparations Orphan X infiltrates the Leones drug cartel in a manner reminiscent of the old TV series 'Mission Impossible.' Orphan X finds that cartel leader El Moreno is a cruel and depraved man, who keeps women in chicken coops and feeds people to a lion.

Evan locates Anjelina, and in usual Orphan X style, mounts an elaborate rescue operation. As always in this series, the story is full of violence, derring-do and death as Orphan X accomplishes almost impossible feats.

Over the course of the series Orphan X has evolved from a complete loner to a man who cares about others, especially his neighbor Mia and her son Peter. The relationship between Evan and Mia is problematical because Mia is a prosecutor and Evan is a shady character, but they're drawn to each other anyway. In this book Mia experiences a health scare, and Evan gets even more involved with the prosecutor and her boy.

The end of the book foreshadows more trouble for Orphan X, and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gregg Hurwitz, and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book.

Book 7 of the Orphan X series. Evan Smoak (The Nowhere Man) might be a new bookish crush.

He’s a bit morally grey, basically good. Maybe this is scary but as a character, I like the way he thinks!

This is my 1st Orphan X story. I’ve seen the books and they are on my Amazon Book Wishlist! I’m thrilled to have gotten an ARC from NetGalley! I loved the story!! The narrator was great & embodied Evan in my mind. I’ll be going back & starting this series from book 1!

The story starts with a slow build-up. It helped me settle in & get a feel for the characters & scenery. You don’t need to read the previous 6 books but from what I read it would fill in a bunch of Evan’s back story, his relationships & work history.

The plot is clearly laid out.

A bad man’s daughter is taken. He seems to truly love her and would die for her.

Evan’s contacted & agrees to rescue her. If only it was as easy as it sounds!

Love Evan’s tech support!

The cover would also make this a Cover buy! Nice!

Thank you Macmillan Audio! Loved the book!

I love this series and this book is the best year. The character development r of Evan was so well done and timely. His personal growth was a breath of fresh air in a thriller. His struggles were so real that while I always recommend this series I will do so even more with the new book.