Without apology, this is one of those gushy, gushy reviews. If you hate my joy, just imagine my tongue extended in your direction lol.

I love this series and I adored this book.

While it can definitely work as a standalone, you’re missing out on such pleasure by not starting with book 1. It’s absolutely worth a binge read.

As for this one?

I laughed, I smiled, I gasped and there may have been a little tear now and then. Evan and Joey are perfection and the ugly little dog (not Dog) named loco was adorable and hilarious. The book is action filled, emotional, and just pure fun.

I want another book now.

5 very happy stars.

• ARC via Net Galley

Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz develops Evan Smoak more than I could have hoped for or imagined. I’ve loved watching Evan get in touch with his humanity book after book, and Lone Wolf showed sides of him I never dared to hope to see. The story had a poignant edge that brought an intriguing layer and a tear to my eye.

There’s also plenty of action and a breakneck pace that keeps the pages flipping. The pacing for this whole series has been phenomenal, and it’s one of the many things I love about it. The action started only a few chapters in and intensified as Evan repeatedly outwitted a female version of himself.

I also loved Joey’s role in the story with all her frustrating typical teen issues that were so far out of Evan’s comfort zone that he didn’t even know how to begin addressing them and helping her. It provides comic relief to the story, as did her constant wit.

I love how this series develops and can’t wait for what will come!

This is the 9th book in the Orphan X series and they just keep getting better. Well developed characters and a fast paced, action packed plot had me finishing it in a day and a half. A few "fish out of water" scenes for the main characters to add a humorous element to the storyline, and you have the perfect escapist thriller. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy.

4.5 stars, actually.

The only disappointment I have with this series is that I didn't get started earlier; my first encounter was the sixth installment (this is the ninth), and I haven't missed one yet. I must say it's probably my least favorite of the four I've now read, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy the heck out of it.

But I do love Evan Smoak, otherwise known as Orphan X and the "Nowhere Man." The former government assassin escaped that program and now operates from a high-tech, high-security penthouse, helping people who have nowhere else to turn. He didn't escape the assassin part, though - when necessary, he doesn't hesitate to take care of business on a permanent basis. But this time, he sort of fell into a case reluctantly, after getting a phone call from his half-brother Andre's young daughter Sophia, who begs him to find her missing dog Loco, Evan ends up in the home of a professor who's been murdered. The man's daughter, a singer, has been shot as well - and in danger of not making it. Evan chases, and loses, the killer - another professional assassin - a woman - known as the Wolf. Clearly, he needs to put her out of business, so early on, the chase is on.

Trying to find her embroils him in other murders and a high-stakes battle between a couple of powerful billionnaires over a product that threatens the future of the world. For help, Evan calls in his super-competent team that includes his young friend Joey, the tech wizard who's growing up fast and starting to explore a "normal" life. All the while, Evan has to keep looking over his shoulder to make sure the Wolf hasn't set her gun sights on it.

It's a complicated investigation that puts Evan's considerable skills to the test way more than once and forces him to deal with emotions he never knew he had (and isn't sure he wants). The chase to the finish reveals an ending twist that really rocks his world - and provides, I'm guessing, fodder for the next installment (to which, of course, I'm looking forward). Meantime, I once again thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one.

For fans of the Orphan X series, this is a MUST READ!

Author Gregg Hurwitz continues with a masterful action-adventure novel that will have readers on the edge of their seats trying to find out if Evan Smoak, our protagonist, will overcome the odds once again.

I'm constantly amazed at how well fleshed-out the characters are, and especially Evan, who is changing and maturing from book to book. This is a series that's in its prime. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but it's a much richer read following the others in the series.

I wanted to see how a missing dog, an expert rogue assassin, and the high-tech world of AI developers would intersect, and I wasn't disappointed. Such an intelligent, crazy plot that works and scares you when you realize what is happening right now in the real world.

I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes well-crafted plots with engaging characters and terrific pacing. I can't wait for the next one in this series!

3.5 stars

In this 9th book in the 'Orphan X' series, Evan Smoak's search for a lost dog leads him to clash with a skilled female assassin. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is beneficial.

*****

When Evan Smoak was a scrawny twelve-year-old living in an orphanage, he was removed 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?"

This time, when Evan's RoamZone rings, and he asks 'Do you need my help?' a young girl answers with, 'Yeah. My dog went missing." It turns out the caller is Sofia, the 11-year-old daughter of Evan's half-brother Andre. Evan barely knows Andre and never met Sofia, and 'The Nowhere Man' isn't in the business of finding lost dogs. However Sofia is crying - and Evan is getting 'the look' from his teenage protégé Josephine (Joey) - so Orphan X agrees to look for Sofia's funny-looking dog Loco.

Joey is a computer whiz who can hack into any computer or CCTV camera anywhere, and with Joey's help, Evan discovers where he might find Loco. When Evan goes to (hopefully) retrieve Loco, he's ready for action, just in case. So Evan is dressed in his tactical-discreet cargo pants, his shirt that foils face recognition, and his Original S.W.A.T. boots. Orphan X is also armed with his ARES 1911 pistol, extra mags, and a Strider folding knife. In addition, Evan has surveilled the neighborhood, plotted multiple escape routes. and so on.

As it turns out, all this is necessary because Evan comes face to face with a highly trained female assassin named Karissa (aka The Wolf), and this leads to Evan having a confrontation with the Los Angeles police and several SWAT teams. After this Evan and Karissa get into a kind of cat and mouse game, with the assassins trying to kill each other. (For faithful readers of the series, Karissa reminds of Candy McClure, aka Orphan V).

As Evan pursues Karissa, he learns of a disturbing scheme being perpetrated by an out-of-shape tech billionaire, who sits around all day snacking and scheming. The billionaire seems to have no scruples, and his plan bodes ill for the human race. Meanwhile, Sofia continues to bug Evan about her pooch Loco, whom she misses terribly.

The book has the elaborately choreographed action scenes that are a signature feature of the series - scenes that are exciting and over the top (in a good way). It's also great to see Joey again, and the Twizzler loving teen - who drinks Red Bull by the case and has a dog named Dog - is growing up. Joey is attending college and dabbling with joining a sorority. However, Joey is socially challenged and has trouble with pantyhose - a MUST for the sorority she's pledging. Unfortunately, Orphan X knows nothing about pantyhose, but his friend Melinda - an attractive Vietnamese master forger - helps Joey with this problem. Evan is changing as well, becoming a bit more involved with his family. At the book's climax, Evan makes a surprising discovery, and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

I had a text copy of the book as well as the audiobook, narrated by Scott Brick, who does an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gregg Hurwitz, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for copies of the book.

I’ve been following this series for over five years now, ever since I picked up the audiobook of Orphan X on a whim, and let me tell you, it never gets old. The character growth book to book is insane, Gregg Hurwitz somehow manages to maintain consistency and authenticity while making sure it’s never a boring ride.

Lone Wolf feels like the most ambitious book out of the recent installments, a real deep-dive into the human side of Evan. The mission in this book is everything he’s shied away from in the past, and very much personal; in spite of it appearing quite domestic on the surface level, the subplots add depth and intrigue to the story.

Something else that’s been getting better and better throughout the course of this series is the cast of characters Evan comes to rely on, even if he insists he’s a lone wolf (pun intended). If Joey wasn’t already one of my favorite characters, she’s definitely become one. Luke Devine’s involvement in this book was a funny and well-received addition.

Reading the latest Orphan X novel has been a highlight for many years now, and I hope it’s something I can look forward to for several more at least. I can’t wait to see where Gregg Hurwitz takes Evan next, especially with that ending.

As a fan of the series, I will say that this story has a bit of a different feel in places that some will like and others not. For me, I like the contrast of the dangerous world he works in with the mundane of home owners association drama. It shows the various ways he has to adapt to the roles he plays. This story shows him struggling a bit with his humanity as his niece calls wanting him to go find her lost dog. Grudgingly he goes and stumbles on a female assassin about to kill a teenager after already killing her father. Righting a wrong is way more interesting to him than finding a lost dog. He enlists Joey to help and down the rabbit hole they go with this case. I will admit that this had some thought provoking statements about technology and data mining. This has the usual fast paced action and great secondary characters the series is known for having. The ending .. all I can say is well played.

PUBLICATION DAY: February 13, 2024

Evan Smoak is back! The Nowhere Man, having recently received some unsettling news, is just a touch off his game. In any other profession, this wouldn’t be a big deal. But to a world class assassin intent on righting wrongs, it could be deadly. This time, with big tech leaders spoiling things, and a new competing assassin intent on ending him, Evan will have to dig deep to stay alive…and to stay human.

PROS and CONS:
I always love reading Evan’s adventures. Fast paced is an understatement - with action scenes, fights, chases, escapes, plans, schemes aplenty. There is also the trademark dry humour and softness in Evan that all fans have grown to love. Watching him evolve from a child who had no one, to an adult attracting a surprising amount of loved ones, is a true joy. Whenever Evan is ready to come back for another round, I’ll be here waiting!

READ IT?
If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll be thrilled with this one. Featuring a terrifying look into big tech and its capabilities, but also filled with a sense of hope - this is a tough combination to get right, but Hurwitz has done it.

5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

I’ve been reading this series for over a year now and honestly I can’t even describe how much I love it.

When you first look at it, it seems like your average assassin book. But honestly it’s one long series about human nature and how hard it is sometimes to be part of the society

If someone asked me the best way to sell these books, I would say “found family” in a blink. Because that’s what Evan and Joey and Tommy and even Candy are. And Sofia calling Evan “Uncle” heart emoji. All the relationships and connections are just so unique and so full of emotions, that sometimes I forget these people kill some very bad people.

For as long as these books will be coming out, I’ll be reading them.

We left Orphan X knocking at his dad's door. How did that turn out? You'll need to read Lone Wolf to find out. Along with that family drama, Evan is asked by his niece to find her missing dog. But with Evan, nothing is ever easy. He winds up going head-to-head against an assassin as skilled as he is.

One of the things that makes this series stand out against others in the genre is the character development of Evan. He struggles with social situations and interpersonal relationships, but the author doesn't leave him there. He grows, recognizes his issues, and makes a conscious choice on whether to change. His protege of a sort, Joey, has similar opportunities. Their relationship is fantastic, pushing both of them out of their comfort zones.

The action is top notch, and the AI storyline will make you think thinky thoughts on how much and how often you use technology. Well researched. My only quibble is the coincidence that gets Evan involved. I'm not a fan of coincidence as a plot point, but otherwise everything else is spot on.

I really enjoyed this book, and readers of this genre will too.

Not family friendly due to profanity, violence, and sexual situations.

Lone Wolf was a good book, but not great. I thought there was too much endless description in certain scenes and the book could have/should have been under 400 pages.
Good characters, plot, and information about the dangers of AI and how it could affect our future. There were some good action scenes, but the book ended with a cliffhanger.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

HE’S BACK!!! I. LOVE. THIS. SERIES!!! Evan Smoak is back in another, fast-paced, action-packed, intense, absolutely hilarious, @$$kicking Orphan X installment! Based on the ending of the last installment (the series installments do NOT make good standalones. Enough said), Joey tracked down Evan’s bio dad and after a lot waffling back and forth with himself (Hurwitz spends a lot of time in Evan’s head), Evan finally meets him and underwhelming and disappointing don’t begin to describe Evan’s reaction to his bio dad. Evan ends up going on a bender that has Joey and Tommy (Evan’s weapons supplier) worried about him. This is not a spoiler since it happened in the second (maybe third) chapter.

With too much time on his hands because he isn’t on some job or assignment, Joey convinces Evan to take the job of finding his niece’s (Evan’s half-brother, Andre’s, daughter, also from the last installment) dog, Loco, who has gone missing. In the process of locating Loco, Evan comes across a murder scene and an assassin that Evan ends up referring to as the Wolf. This Lone Wolf appears to be just as good as an assassin as Evan, but Evan does seem to thwart her efforts time and time again. NOBOBY is as good as Orphan X!!! This is also not a spoiler since it also happened pretty early in the story.

Most of the story revolves around trying to get to bottom of who the Wolf is working for and why as well as Evan dodging her assassination attempts. There is also the storyline of retrieving Loco from the murder scene and protecting Jayla, the 17yr old daughter of the Wolf’s latest victim, who can identify the Wolf. There is also another storyline of Joey rushing a sorority (she’s a UCLA student), and it’s not going well.

Once again, I am thoroughly enamored with the way that the quasi-sibling relationship between Evan and Joey has developed. Most of the time, it is such a typical sibling thing the way that they tease, harass, and annoy each other (think Millennial big brother and Zoomer little sister) with their interactions being absolutely hilarious and amusing. Then there are those times where the love and affection for each other is so touching, it makes my eyes a little watery. LOVE JOEY!!!

Over the course of the series, Joey has been one of the driving forces that keeps Evan human and keeps Evan from descending to a life on the dark side (drowning in his over-the-top OCD) along with Evan’s mentor, Jack, which at this point in the series are just Jack’s life lessons now (Jack was killed in a previous installment). With every installment, Evan becomes more philosophical and more concerned about the few people in has managed to let into his life and that he has come to care about very much.

Once again, Hurwitz provides a jaw dropping, OMG, out in left field cliffhanger that I should have seen coming. But hey, if Evan can miss it, then so can I. I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and the narrator Scott Brick was really good and is the perfect voice for Evan, plus his delivery of the humorous parts was spot on. He often had that intense tone to his narration too that so much of the Orphan X story warranted. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #MacmillanAudio #LoneWolf

The Orphan X series is truly what got me back into fiction after years of strictly reading non-fiction. It went from a recommendation from family to a series I never want to see end and recommend to everyone.

I loved this book because it was different and strayed from the typical Orphan X mission novel format. The oft repeated mantra of the series is that the hardest part is to keep Evan human. This book more than any other pushes Evan into embracing humanity both good and bad whether he wants to or not.

I had an inkling of what happened in the last chapter earlier on in the book but I didn’t want to admit it to myself until I saw it on the page. Thank goodness this means the Orphan X series can and MUST continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for an ARC of this book. This is the first Orphan X book I’ve been picked to get an ARC for (after trying for years) and I was thrilled to read it early!

Orphan X has another mission, and this one will prove to test everyone! Where will this mission lead him? This was such an exciting and emotional journey!

Lone Wolf is yet another great installment of the Orphan X series. Especially interesting in Lone Wolf is the continued personal growth and evolution experienced by both Evan and Joey as they help each other work to mitigate terrible youths. The possibility there could eventually be something more to that relationship continues to glow. Stay tuned.

First off, Joey was hysterical in this one. She had at least two running jokes that had chuckling every time she deployed them. I enjoy seeing Evan's familial relationships continue to develop, even as he finds the entire process confusing and is honestly clearly terrified by it. The villain in this one wasn't difficult to see coming, but their motives were the scariest things about them.

Explosive action, dynamite characters, and a smoldering cliffhanger.

Those previously unfamiliar with Hurwitz’s ORPHAN X SERIES will undoubtedly sit up and take notice, then obsessively top off already teetering TBR piles with the eight books that came before, while thriller writers will either up their game or subconsciously curse Hurwitz for penning yet another suspenseful masterpiece. Although LONE WOLF is my introduction to Evan Smoak, former black-ops assassin, I had no problem following the plot or taking a shine to the indelible main character. Hats off, Mr. Hurwitz. Much appreciation to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Gregg Hurwitz for the ARC.

Lone Wolf is book 9 in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz.
Gregg has written another brilliantly written novel.
His characters are richly developed and fully formed. I love the way Hurwitz draws you in and develops his characters.
Super entertaining and fast paced with some shockers and edge of your seat suspense. This was so much fun to read. Great character development and a riveting plot. With a whole lot of action and more good vs evil.
I love that the action is non-stop, and the adrenaline is just so intense.
This is a wonderfully entertaining thriller.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Another fantastic Orphan X novel. Interesting concept for the main plot but the true best part of the novel is the expanding of the relationships Evan has and the extra layers added to the side characters