The latest Orphan X novel starts with Evan Smoak in crisis—getting drunk, failing to respond even to Joey, and basically behaving in a most un-X-like manner. Joey takes charge and convinces him that baby steps are the way back, so he takes a small job: finding a child’s lost dog. Things start badly—and comically—as Evan gets beaten up by an old lady. Slowly and after much merciless teasing by Joey he regains his form, and we’re off on another excellent installment in this must-read series. It’s good to see Joey taking a more central role, and it was about time for a break from Mia. I’ll be happy to see her back in the future, but this book’s focus on something other than that awkward relationship was welcome.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance review copy.

Evan Smoak (a/k/a the Nowhere Man and Orphan X) is called by a little girl, who asks for his help to find her missing dog. This is not what he had in mind, but the little girl is actually related to him and so he decides to help. In the process of tracking down the dog, he stumbles into the assassination of a computer programmer, saving the life of his teenage daughter and pitting himself against the deadly assassin (Wolf), who wants Evan and the girl dead as no witnesses is a rule by which Wolf lives. The Wolf and Evan think alike and therefore have to outmaneuver each other, with only one surviving. The plot is a little much technology wise, and for me, there was a bit too much family drama (Evan and his desire to meet his biological father and his weird relationship with Joey.) In fact, I had to reduce my rating by a full star for Joey changing Evan's ringtone to "Doncha wish your girlfriend was hawt like me," a song I could not stop hearing in my head...

Thanks for St. Martins Press and Net Galley for allowing me to preview the latest Orphan X novel, Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz. Not his usual Orphan X mission, in Lone Wolf Evan Smoak takes on a personal mission to unmask an "Elon Musk" billionaire, a female killer while still protecting those on the right side of his sometimes ambiguous morals.

One of the deadliest assassins returns in the latest installment of the Orphan X series. Gregg Hurwitz delivers another action-packed, emotional ride through the hills of Los Angeles.

When Evan Smoak aka The Nowhere Man aka Orphan X is found depressed and drinking alone, his friend and computer whiz Joey convinces him to return to his work, but to do it slowly. Even though one of the Commandments states, One mission at a time, he agrees to find a small dog, and the mission quickly becomes a second mission when he witnesses an assassin kill a man. Evan Smoak barely saves the life of the man's daughter in the process. Now on the hunt for the killer, Smoak wanders through the darkest depths of Los Angeles in search of answers. From the alleys lined with the homeless to most expense, sprawling estates in the Hollywood hills, he searches high and low for answers. And he gets them.

If there is any character who has evolved the most over the course of his run, it's got to be Evan Smoak. He's still as sharp and lethal as ever, but the way that Hurwitz has morphed him from a stone cold killer to an actual human being is quite impressive. In Lone Wolf, Hurwitz intertwines artificial intelligence with money disparity, making it an interesting, thought-provoking thriller by one of the best in the business. I miss Evan's interactions with Nia, his neighbor down the hall in Castle Heights, but it was fun watching Smoak explore the other relationships with those in his building.

Gregg Hurwitz is such an incredible writer -- his prose is always so eloquent and poetic -- even when it's describing gruesome brutalism.

Lone Wolf is a crushingly brilliant piece of fiction. One of the books I look forward to most each year is the new Orphan X novel, and this book did not disappoint. Another fun and exciting joy ride through LA, thriller readers won't want to miss this.

Lots of action. I found the characters sad in a way. Sad backgrounds and lots of emotional issues. Certainly not your normal sympathetic characters

Well, another middling entry in this series that I love whose pedestrian writing is at least better plotted these days than les frères Child's pedestrian writing. Time to make Joey the Nowhere Girl and give her her own series.

I’m a big fan of this series. I’ve read all the previous novels and short stories. This one is a page turner with as much action and suspense as anything in the series.

It’s the most personal and evolutionary book in the series with both Evan and Joey grappling and ultimately coming to terms with their humanity.

The book has some timely discussion about the dangers of AI and how it could affect our future.

I missed Mia Hall.

The twist in the epilogue foreshadows the next book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I love this series and I love Evan (Orphan X)! This book continues all the action, has some weighty issues about the human race and it’s future. It dwells into emotions and the right thing to do. I love seeing this side of Evan. I was disappointed the Mia and Peter wasn’t in this story. #LoneWolf #NetGalley

Special thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for the Advance Reading Copy. This is not a paid review.
I would actually pay to read this series! There are a few spoilers, be aware.
The Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz is by far the best thriller series that is currently in process. Every book is better than the last and Lone Wolf is the best so far. After 9 books it is astounding the growth that Hurwitz imbues in Evan Smoak.
Unlike previous X books, Lone Wolf starts a little different. Evan answers his Roamzone with his typical, "How can I help you?" Only to hear the voice of his estranged brother, Andre's daughter Sofia. Asking The Nowhere Man to find her dog. A snaggle toothed psychotic mutt.
Thus begins an X like other.
Feeling the need to help this little girl, who is family, Evan isn't quite sure how to navigate. Feelings aren't his thing. So, using all the tools at his disposal including the massively awesome hacking and computer skills of his ward, Joey, they set out to find the missing mutt.
They get a ping from a traffic camera of the dog being picked up by a nice looking gentleman and they track him to his home.
In the meantime, there is an assassin afoot that is as brutally efficient as the Nowhere Man and her next target is the man in question who just happens to be a genius AI developer.
As Evan gets to the house to procure the dog, he finds the door open and the good doctor killed with the assassin still there.
What follows is a tour d force of action, and drama with purely joyous exchanges between Evan and those who become involved. Insane billionaires, a beautiful assassin, and most of all Joey and the doctor's teenage daughter who has a bullseye painted on her back which Evan must save. . This is Smoak at his best.

The next installment in the Orphan X series, finds Evan Smoak having a harder time following the program's Fourth Commandment - Never make it personal. As Evan and Joey's characters develop and age, more of their emotional and vulnerable sides are exposed. Hurwitz masterfully bounces between intensity, heartbreak and humor, especially with Joey's antics. Trying to get back to basics after a very personal disappointment, Evan as The Nowhere Man takes on a simple assignment. Not only does this mission explode into one of his most dangerous yet but it becomes very personal. Up against an evenly matched assassin, Orphan X has to rely on all his skills and training. I definitely missed Peter in this installment and hope to see him and Mia again. This book leaves you with a hint that personally, there's more to come!

Phenomenal book! I am a huge fan of Mr. Hurwitz and this series. I have read and loved them all. This one is my favourite. A bases loaded Grand Slam. Looking for a lost dog is not the Nowhere Man’s usual job. Nor is getting hurt by an elderly woman. A little humour to start with. Another page turner that I couldn’t put down. Please Mr. Hurwitz, can’t you write faster? I am in Orphan X withdrawal and am hoping for my next fix soon! Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

What a complete and utter rush! In this 9th installment to his Orphan X series, author Gregg Hurwitz delivers yet another intricately woven, heart-pounding, page-turner of a story that drew me in from the very first page and held me captive right up until the very last. In “Lone Wolf,” Orphan X (aka, Evan Smoak), once again, seeks to take out those intent on causing harm to the innocent. But at the story’s core, the more menacing threat is clearly delineated as AI vs. humanity. In this same vein, both Evan and Joey find themselves delving a bit deeper into their own human emotions and vulnerabilities, making for more multi-faceted characters that are easy to root for. With a surprising revelation left dangling at the book’s end, I’m already primed and ready for the next installment to this uniquely compelling series.

Another great Orphan X book. I enjoyed interplay between Evan and Joey and the continued development of their relationship. I also enjoyed the progression of the relationship with Tommy and the set up for the next book. The book was well paced and we got to learn more about Evan's other associates. I was a little disappointed that Peter and Mia weren't part of the story. I do enjoy the interactions as it always puts Evan in a more human light. I am excited for the next book already.

Orphan X is back in “Lone Wolf”, the latest (9th) action-packed installment from Gregg Hurwitz. This time Evan Smoak, ex-government assassin Orphan X, is called upon for what may be his greatest challenge: making your family happy.

When The Nowhere Man phone rings, Evan is shocked to hear the voice of his niece. She needs help finding her lost (ugly) dog, not exactly the pulse-pounding job he usually takes on. But family is family, and soon Evan finds himself pursuing leads and putting up posters. He’s not taking this too seriously and ends up paying the consequences for not following his rules (a humorous confrontation with an old lady who takes him out). Whipped back into focus, he follows a lead which takes him right to the middle of a murder. The assassin is the Lone Wolf of the title, and she manages to escape Evan… but he has seen her face, and so has her victim’s daughter, so both of them must now be eliminated. Hunter and hunted tangle back and forth, can Evan save the daughter and himself? Not to mention find the lost dog?

This adventure is much more focused on family than any of the previous books. Evan leans heavily on Joey, who is going through her own crises with a sorority that she kinda wants to join. We also have the half-brother and niece situation that is the driving force of the story. Evan also meets his father, not exactly the reunion he was hoping for. Tommy is here as well, although Evan for the first time sees how age and his lifestyle are catching up with him. Orphan V and Mia & Peter are missing, but we still have plenty of drama with Evan’s building neighbors and the condo board election to contend with.

The Nowhere Man / Orphan X had always followed the rule “Don’t make it personal.” Unfortunately for Evan, this time it’s all personal.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is an introspective of AI meets Orphan X and how does he handle coming to terms with his life and how it’s been shaped with the modern world and where life is going. His journey also evolves with his friends which is an added interest to the book. Also includes a random killer. Highly suggest this book!

I always love Orphan X. His confusion when it comes to emotion and family and people is so genuine. His adventures are pretty good as well. A man with no connections is certainly getting more and more

Lone Wolf is another good installment of the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. The book had a lot of action and a lot of interpersonal growth and interaction for Evan (Orphan X) with Joey and his newly found niece.
He is asked to help find his niece’s dog who is missing. While on the hunt he runs into the “wolf” a hired killer. There are emotional peaks and valleys that Evan, who does not know much about, works through, and helps everyone.
The action is fast paced with Evan trying to help everyone. This one is different than the others in the series because it focuses on fleshing out the main characters. Joey, Tommy, the people in Evan’s building.
I recommend this book – Though you do need to have read a few of the ones in the series to get full enjoyment out of it.

Okay I appear to be in the vast minority here, but I was disappointed by this one.. I have been a huge fan of the Orphan X series since the very beginning, so no one was more surprised than I was by my reaction to this book. It felt divergent from the series and not in a character-development way but in a trying-to-be-something-different way that I didn't respond well to. There were still tremendous moments, is there always are in these books, with startling insights and fun and poignant character interactions, but a lot of it felt repetitive and over the top and I just didn't like it as much as previous books in this series.

So good!

4.5 stars

Orphan X is back in full force in Lone Wolf. This is the 9th installment in the Orphan X series.

On a mission to find his niece's lost dog, Evan finds himself unexpectedly facing off against an assassin known as the Wolf. In a battle to take out the Wolf, Evan finds himself questioning his ability to continue as X.

The characters are my favorite element of this series. This installment focuses on Joey and X, and they interact a lot as they work together to solve the case--she makes a great foil to Evan. Both characters continue to grow and develop. Also, Evan spends some time with his niece-his interactions with her and his search for her ugly dog had me smiling.

This is a heart-pounding, action-packed, adrenaline-rush of a read culminating in tension and suspense, with emotion and humor mixed in. The previous book in the series, The Last Orphan, had me nervous as Evan was off his game. The series felt tired and left me with low expectations for this installment, but this book surprised me in a good way-- It is one of the strongest of the series. The characters and the plot got a much-needed refresh. There are also a few twists, one that surprised me.

Overall, this is a must-read for fans of the series. For those who haven't yet checked out The Orphan X series, it is best to start with book #1.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Lone Wolf. The Nowhere Man. This novel, like all the others in this series are so full of action it’s hard to put it down for even a moment. What starts out as a begrudging favor to find a lost dog quickly becomes a mission for the Nowhere Man when he walks in on an assassination. Wonderful story.