3-3.5 stars
This is the third of the Orphan X series that I've read and it was my least favorite so far. Like the others, it is definitely action-packed and suspenseful. If this is your kind of book, you are likely to enjoy it--and I mostly did. However, I thought some aspects were too over the top to be believable and the main character spent too much of his time navel-gazing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

The author continues his Orphan X series. The Nowhere Man in this novel almost meets his match from a psychological perspective while Joey provides him with some information that he is not entirely sure what he wants to do with. This is a well written and fast paced novel as the others in the series have been. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, but I recommend to first time readers to start with the first novel as it lends more background to what happens in this book.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

The Last Orphan
by Gregg Hurwitz
Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023
Minotaur
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the latest installment # 8 in this series.
There are some intriguing developments concerning certain plot lines, but the most significant is that Evan is not as sharp as he once was, which was an interesting change.

Joey, Dog, and Orphan V were the highlights for me. Mia’s fate is revealed, but there is not enough of Peter and some of the other regular characters. This installment felt a little tired. I feel like the series needs a reboot, which maybe is what Hurwitz is hinting at with Evan’s unexpected challenges. I have no idea where this series will go next, but I look forward to finding out.
4 stars

I’m a huge Orphan X fan. This last in the series did not disappoint. Now we find Evan captured by the US Government after he misses a shot that he never misses. Of course he very cleverly extricates himself. So much Fun! The President needs him to rid herself of a diabolical businessman in order to further her agenda. Evan states he will look into it and that’s when the fun begins. Another joy is Candy’s return to partner with him. Really enjoyed this book. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

Admittedly, I have become an Orphan X addict, almost against my will. A new Orphan X book became available on NetGalley and any reservations I might have had went out the window. Now I say unashamedly, My name is Char and I'm an Orphan X addict.

Accidentally having listened to the 7th book in the series before reading the rest, I liked it but some of the characters annoyed me. I was interested in those characters enough to start a proper read of the previous novels, via the audios narrated by Scott Brick. As Ray Porter is the voice of Joe Ledger to me, Scott Brick is the voice of Evan Smoak aka Orphan X.

As I progressed through the series I became more and more invested in these characters, and this installment plays upon those feelings. X is finally caught, and now, instead of the promised retaliation from his captors, he is given an impossible task. Will X's commitment to his personal moral code be sorely tested? Yes. Will he emerge triumphant? You'll have to read this to find out!

For me, the plot here felt a bit worn, but the scenes with the main villain were fascinating. It's been a long time since X sat with someone face to face like this, where X wasn't extraordinarily secured, and rightfully so. I also felt that in this volume, the relationship between Joey Morales and Evan went to a deep familial connection heretofore unreached and I AM HERE FOR IT. It's odd to me that it was this very relationship that I was annoyed by in my first, (but what was really the 7th), Orphan X book, that I now love the most. Yes, X has had a few relationships where he was accessible and even maybe vulnerable, but there's a scene here, well...if you don't at least tear up I don't want to know you.

I had some trepidation that I may not like reading this novel, rather than listening, as I have all the others. I need not have worried. I read Evan's dialogue in Scott Brick's voice in my head, (LOL, but really) and I enjoyed reading this just as much, if not more than I would have had I listened.

Because the depth of the characters was really expanded here, and in a direction I loved it to go, I gave this four stars, even though the plot was a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, the action and the planning on X's part are all here, but I found the denouement kind of frustrating. After that though, the final sentences have me feeling ASTRONOMICAL excitement as to what happens next!

"Ask yourself the question: Do I look afraid?"

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

Awwww man. At first, I thought maybe this was it for Evan Smoak. Then, I realized it wasn't the end. I am relieved to know that I will get to continue on the Evan Smoak train for a little while longer.

This book, like all the previous books in the series, is a whole different type of level of story. Yet again, X is on a mission to extinguish evil. The real question in this book is who exactly is that evil? X has some real digging to find the truth so he knows just who he is up against and who he needs to seek his vengeance on.

Every book we get in this series brings a little more humanity to Evan and his struggle on how to handle the humanity coming through. His internal struggles of learning how to navigate real emotions continue to reek havok on his ability to accept he does infact have emotions. He continues to make personal connections with those arround him and new people. His net is getting wider and wider, which makes him more vulnerable.

I really enjpyed this ride with X. And that ending. I am anticiapting where that is going to go in the next book. But whhhyyyyy do I have to wait so long. Another year of waiting. *sigh*

Gregg Hurwitz has done it again. Evan Smoak/Orphan X/Nowhere Man…whatever the role he’s playing in the moment, he is a joy to follow along. In this installment, it picks up where the previous book left off and X has to deal with the President. There is almost no Peter or Mia in this book which was disappointing, and a lot less Joey than I prefer, but when she does appear she is packing a punch. The ending was an interesting spin and the cliffhanger makes me anxious to read the next book right away. This series just doesn’t disappoint!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

Yet another excellent X book in series. Great storyline, great characters, full of action and cool guy Evan quips. Evan’s relationship with Joey is heartfelt and continues to grow. I love an Orphan X book! Look forward to the next!

As always another great addition to the series. I enjoy the character development & love learning more about the characters. Highly entertaining & full of humanity. I love this series & always enjoy Gregg Hurwitz writing.

The BEST so far in this exceptional thriller series by Hurwitz – in which Orphan X gets challenged in the toughest way so far. Found and kidnapped by the government- the U.S. president demands Orphan X’s help to take down a billionaire who’s accumulated so much power that he’s threatening her administration’s key environmental legislative initiative as well as her re-election.

What also makes this great is that Hurwitz eloquently weaves in the whole back story of Orphan X- from getting picked out of an orphanage for extensive training as a black op killer for the U.S. whose very existence could be denied to his leaving the service of the U.S. to use his skills for those who find themselves in desperate circumstances in need of rescue- so that readers new to this series can easily dive right in.

Orphan X, not about to be bossed around by anybody, decides that he needs to figure out on his own whether the billionaire is truly a bad, immoral person deserving to be taken down - which in Orphan X’s line of work means being assassinated. This morality quest takes Reacher deep into the lives surrounding and impacted by the billionaire, and into a dangerous quest to understand exactly how the billionaire has amassed such control over powerful people worldwide.

The danger rachets up to a point where Orphan X’s life hangs in the balance – so don’t plan on going to sleep anytime soon after starting!! A magnificent read!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

This is book 8 in this series and the only one that I have read. While there were references to events in the previous books, it worked for me as a stand alone.
Evan Smoak was an orphan who was trained to be a killer by a secret U.S. government program. He left the program and has been helping people who are being oppressed, including killing bad guys.
Then the government captures him and demands that he stop a sinister, shadowy figure who may ruin a cherished Presidential project.
But there are other reasons why he decides to investigate. How he manages to resolve these issues makes for an engaging read. I read it in 2 days.
Thanks to St.Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

(3). The fun never ends with Orphan X. Evan is the most cerebral, supposedly ethical and moral assassin around. Plus, he has really interesting friends, to say nothing of a Houdini like ability to escape any situation, no matter how dire. The plot here is as crazy as almost all of them are, with the slightest tinge of believability. That being said, any book with Evan Smoak makes for a super solid read. I can’t wait for the next one. Good stuff.

The Last Orphan is a contemporary action novel written by Gregg Hurwitz. This is book eight in the Orphan X series. This is not a standalone book and should be read as part of the series or too much backstory would be missed.

Summary: Evan Smoak is a former government assassin gone rogue. He has managed to stay one step ahead of the government all these years, but his past is about to catch up with him.

Now he’s being forced to do the President a favor-or else.

Will he follow through, or will he lose his freedom for good this time?

My Thoughts: While I like the overall arch to this series (especially the ongoing relationships with Evan and his little “family”), I didn’t care for this book as much.

First, the book had an overall melancholy feel to it, and at times almost felt like it had been written by a different person. It dulled Evan’s personality a bit for me and made him seem a bit helpless, which I didn’t care for.

Also, the book built up to the bad guy doing something REALLY horrible. I don’t know if I am a bit spoiled because so many of the past books had some serious super villains, but the “bad thing” was actually pretty anticlimactic.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this one-even though I still really like the characters.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.

Another great entry in the Orphan X series. It's interesting that this mission requires a good deal more consideration from Evan than his previous mission. He's being forced to assassinate someone by order of the president of the United States. Which is an interesting power play on the president's part. "You kill evil people and as president I think this person is evil and need you to kill him." But that's not how Orphan X operates and Evan has to make a moral decision that could potentially tear his world apart.

I feel like I say this about each Orphan X book, but they just keep getting better.

Book 8 of the Orphan X series.

After all his sacrifices can Evan finally win his freedom? Or will the government always have some control over his life?

Yet another great addition to a favorite series of mine. I love Evan’s character. Raised from childhood to become something of a one-man special ops mercenary. On the flip side, he has such a soft heart for those he begrudgingly allows into his inner circle.

Gregg Hurwitz has created a character that will appeal to virtually everyone! Men want to be him…and the women? Well, who wouldn’t want to date this soft-spoken warrior?

I loved Joey's character in this book…one day maybe she’ll assume a bigger role? Perhaps a spin-off series?💁‍♀️

As for Evan and Mia? No spoilers here. To discover her fate you’ll just have to read this installment! ❤️or💔 (You’re welcome!)

I read this book a few months back with Susanne and somehow my review got lost along the way.
Anyhoo….take two!😜

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books

Gregg Hurwitz masters this next installment of the Orphan X series. Even as a trained killer, Evan Smoak still manages to maintain his human side and the development of his character is evident throughout the series. This one has him questioning his abilities and discernment of his skills.

Terrific—as are all the Orphan novels. In each one, we see more of Evan the person, never more so than in this one. Brilliantly merging the mission with the killing of two people in the opening pages, and Evan’s unexpected capture by the government, this is one exciting and rewarding ride of a read. Watching the unfolding of Evan’s humanness from Evan the Last Orphan assassin adds another layer to an already enjoyable series and one I hope continues.

The Last Orphan was as exceptional a story as the preceding novels about Orphan X. With a combination of action, humor, drama and comradely. I really enjoy X’s friendships, although I’m saddened by his struggle to be with Mia and Peter. Wonderful story!

Evan Smoak (Orphan X) is one of the most unusual protagonists in today’s literature. He, as a child, was taken by an unknown Governmental agency, educated and turned into an assassin. At one point he walked out of the Agency, goes into his version of hiding and began to follow his own decisions about vigilance and the elimination of others. He got an unknown phone and an 800 number which victims of horrors used to contact him for his assistance. The Government continued to attempt to coerce him whenever possible and held his past over his head to ensure compliance. This time he is captured by the Secret Service and told to eliminate an individual the President wanted out of the way. X does not commit himself, however, after his escape, he begins to look into the man and his background. This is that story. The action, both physical and intellectual, is outstandingly presented. Readers are right in the thick of it. This was really great reading for a lover of this genre. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC for an honest review.

I am trying to define why I enjoy the Orphan X books so much - actually to the point of distraction. Could be because these are great thrillers with acute attention to detail. Please don’t let it be because of the gruesome and graphic violence, although there is a certain beauty in the choreography of the fight and destroy scenes. Then there are the psychological mind games and the reasoning of what constitutes morality. The exploration of those who need Mr. Nowhere Man and get to use that phone number as opposed to a government that has his number and sanctions his demise because it can’t control him. While this was not one of my favorite plots it really doesn’t matter because I am in awe of the scripting of this story, the details, the descriptions, the snappy dialog, the raw emotions, the machinations, all of it.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy.