I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio Book for this ARC (publishing date February 13, 2024) in exchange for my unbiased review of the book.

A return to AI and its ramifications in today’s economics and world affairs is the primary plot driver. But the storyline as well is a continued development of character background for Evan (Orphan X aka The Nowhere Man) as well as Joey (a 16 year old former Orphan Agent, a Hispanic and a technology geru who sits on UCLA grad courses and complains about their simplicity), Tommy (Evan’s logistics/armaments geru who seemingly is entering a moment where he is at the very least going to be very sick and Candy McClure, another former Orphan who uses her brains, brawn and ultimate femininity to accomplish her assignments in support of Evan.

Evan, trained by a secret, off the books government project as a covert agent, has a set of “commandments” that he has been deeply trained to live by. Commandment #4, “Never make it personal”, out of fear of creating emotional vulnerabilities that can become weaknesses to his enemies. This book, as have several of the prior ones in the series (9 in all), addresses the downsides of this emotional detachment to Evan’s human development and this becomes an interesting side view to the human psyche.

Great continued character and story development. It was hard to set aside.

Also, a comment is due the narrator of the Orphan X series, Scott Brick. An easy voice to listen to with so much tonal variety as he switches between the different characters of the book. The book’s author, Gregg Hurwitz, has stated in several interviews online that from the beginning, Brick was his choice for narrator…that he had Evan’s voice as he pictured him.

I am new to the orphan x series and had no problem following the characters or storyline, so this can be read as a standalone novel. The story grabs your attention from the beginning and maintains a good pace throughout the book. I enjoyed the characters and found the interactions between Evan and Joey to be humorous. The narration was excellent. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even bought myself a copy of the first novel in the orphan x series.

ETA- The Only thing better than reading an Orphan X novel is listening to it narrated by Scott Brick. His performance was impeccable, as always!
4.5 stars
I’ve been looking forward to the next installment in the Orphan X series. It’s guaranteed to be high octane from start to finish! I also appreciate that the series has evolved over time. Evan Smoak is getting older and, gasp, making friends. Both of these things affect events in this book and I personally feel the books are the better for it! Those pesky people in the HOA. What’s going on with Tommy? What zingers will Joey bring to the table? I enjoy these moments as much as the Mission Impossible-like antics of The Nowhere Man!
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Minotaur and NetGalley for the advance listener/reader copy for review.

OMG, I FREAKING LOVED THIS AUDIO!!!!
This is the 9th book in the Orphan X series.
And this series is so good and it just keeps getting better and better.
Author Hurwitz has such a unique and fun way of describing things and using words. He’s very clever. .. This book starts out with big tough ex assassin Evan Smoak looking for a dog that ran away from his niece. The way Hurwitz describe this snaggletooth ugly dog is great. I swear I can see this dog in my mind causing trouble everywhere it goes. But at the same time we love the dog for how much he loves the little girl…. Anyway Evan soon finds himself face to face with a female version of himself and trying to save and protect the innocent.
Love the suspense in this one and the way the characters relationships grow.

I didn’t want this book to end and now we have to wait for the next one…

I highly, highly recommend this book and series. I think it’s best to start with the 1st book and be assured the series gets better and better as it goes. You’ll be hooked.

And Scott Brick is wonderful in this series. I love his voice, his tone, and how he puts personality and emotion into every character and every word. He brings the story alive.
This is a fantastic pairing!
Can’t wait for more!

Thank You Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Can’t believe I got a book from my favorite series!

The blog review is scheduled for 2/13 at 8am so it will appear as a broken link prior to that date

https://onereadingnurse.com/2024/01/19/alc-audiobook-review-lone-wolf-by-gregg-hurwitz/

I wouldn't recommend starting the series with this book, but, if you're already a fan, it's definitely one of my favorites so far!

Wowww X, that's how you react to that piece of information you received at the end? Really? I would think it's just business as usual! I love X but sometimes I wonder exactly how he justifies that his killing is any more legal or proper than anyone else's when he starts talking about War in situations like ... this 🤦‍♀️

Well, the next book will be interesting!

Lone Wolf brought back a lot of humanity and real life/personal issues into the series. Joey is trying to fit in with sorority girls, Andre is back and trying to stay on the right side of the coin, Sophia mises her dad, Tommy is waxing poetic about old age and old guilt, there's even an HOA rivalry that will have everyone pulling their hair out before they realize what's at the root of it ... And Evan is just trying to ignore everyone else's loneliness because he can't look too closely at his own.

Or can he!?

Add these more serious themes into an action packed, banter filled, terrifying look at where AI and technology might take us next. Are our phone addictions engineered by someone more sinister? What's the worst that deepfake AI can do to the world? There's even an assassin who's just as good as X, but not an Orphan.

The cherry on top is a snaggletoothed lost Chihuahua mix that started this whole catastrophe 😍

Scott Brick rocks it out again as narrator as well. If you don't want to hear him warbling on about "a bag of crushed assholes" then....well, don't listen I guess? Brick is amazing throughout the 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.

Lone Wolf (Orphan X #9)
Gregg Hurwitz
Evan Smoak has a black past. He was known as Orphan X, a government assassin. He left his past behind; now he helps hopeless people. There is little he will not do to assist someone. He has faced drug cartels, murderers, kidnappers and powerful men others were afraid to face. His current case focuses on a missing dog and the little girl that is desperate for the dog to be returned. What sounds like a small, simple case quickly escalates. Evan faces off against a female assassin known as the Wolf. She is good, very good at what she does. She is on a mission to destroy anyone that can identify who she is. The next target is the teenage daughter of the previous target and then Evan. This is an emotional case. This case is personal.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series. I enjoyed it. Joey and her dog added a lot to the plot. There was a bit of humor to lighten the darkness of the tale. I will have to go back and read previous books in the series.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of Lone Wolf for review. My reviews are always my unbiased opinions.

"Lone Wolf" by Gregg Hurwitz is a riveting thriller that takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of suspense, action, and unexpected twists. The novel introduces us to Evan Smoak, also known as Orphan X, a skilled and highly trained assassin who has now chosen to use his lethal abilities for a noble cause – helping those in desperate need.

The character of Evan Smoak is meticulously crafted, making him a complex and intriguing protagonist. Hurwitz delves into Evan's past, unraveling the layers of his training and the reasons behind his decision to become a vigilante. The emotional depth added to Evan's character adds a compelling element to the narrative, making readers empathize with his internal struggles.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with adrenaline-pumping action sequences. Hurwitz skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping the reader engaged and eager to discover how they intersect. The novel is not just about action; it also explores themes of identity, redemption, and the consequences of one's past actions.

One of the strengths of "Lone Wolf" lies in Hurwitz's ability to create a vivid and immersive atmosphere. The author paints a detailed picture of the settings, whether it's the gritty urban landscape or the tension-filled moments in the characters' lives. This attention to detail enhances the overall reading experience, making it easy for readers to visualize the events unfolding.

The supporting characters in the novel are well-developed, each contributing to the narrative in a meaningful way. The dynamic between Evan and those he encounters adds depth to the story, and the author skillfully explores the complexities of relationships formed in the midst of danger.

As the suspense builds, "Lone Wolf" keeps readers guessing until the very end. The unpredictable twists and turns make for an exhilarating read, and Hurwitz's writing style keeps the narrative flowing smoothly.

In conclusion, "Lone Wolf" is a masterfully crafted thriller that combines heart-pounding action with well-drawn characters and a thought-provoking exploration of moral dilemmas. Gregg Hurwitz has once again proven his prowess in the genre, delivering a gripping and satisfying read for fans of suspense and espionage.

Excellent Audio Book. Very well written and I enjoyed this book. this is a 5 star story and I will recommend to anyone. Great Job Mr. Hurwit

Evan is back and he is ready for action! Well that is when he is not getting… better not reveal anything.

Non stop action from the first listen (audio book), lets the reader relax and enjoy another exciting orphan x novel. Filled with suspense and laughter, this is one of the best Orphan X novels to date.

Absolutely scary, freaky and exciting look into the future of ai. Scary reality of dangers of social media. Future is scary and exciting at the same time.

Nowhere man does it again!

Thanks to the Minotaur Books/Macmillan and Netfalley for an audiobook of Gregg Hurwitz' forthcoming Orphan X novel Lone Wolf. I read the eARC of the book a month ago and enjoyed it just as much in the audio. I have almost always listened to the Orphan X novels, and Scott Brick has delivered, as he always does. Top notch narration. Listening to a novel by Scott is like coming home.

Lone Wolf is really an excellent novel, but it is not the novel for someone to first get introduced to the Nowhere Man. The book follows events in the last two books, Dark Horse, and the Last Orphan, and really is helping to advance the storyline and character development of both Evan and his young protoge Joey, plus the comedic yet poignant interactions with Evan's armor, Tommy. The only characters missing are Mia and Peter, who are traveling and do not appear in the novel. The book begins with Evan's quest to find his father, and the consequences of that. Evan has a lot of internal turmoil and emotional baggage, tied up in his OCD powered brain. But Evan remains committed to fighting injustice. And it does not take long for injustice to present itself. The book quickly spins in to a new mission, which deals with the battles of corporate billionaires who are seeking to dramatically change the world with artificial intelligence, in a way that will eradicate what little privacy we have left.

The writing in Lone Wolf was crisp; Evan, Joey and Tommy had me laughing out loud several times. Orphan X fans will definitely want to read this when it becomes available in early 2024. I'll probably then listen to the audiobook of it, just so I can hear the master Scott Brick tell the story as only he can.

And remember the First Commandment, assume nothing.

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

Lone Wolf is the 9th book in the Orphan X Novel series by Gregg Hurwitz. I have not read the previous books yet (and I will be correcting that soon!) and was able to enjoy this as a standalone mystery.

Wow! Just wow!!! I don’t even know where to start. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and I found it was even more than I could have hoped for. I now understand the hype around this series!

The author has created such depth in his characters. I really like Evan and found him to be fascinating. The storyline was amazing and well crafted. There was so much depth to uncover and it kept me so engaged.

The narration by Scott Brick was fantastic! I loved how he brought the characters to life! I think my favorite part was when he had to read the ringtone….so flat and annoyed! Loved it!

I highly recommend Lone Wolf!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow! This was what I wanted. Gregg brings Evan back to his core. So much fun with a lot of action and character development. There was one twist I did not see coming! Fantastic a must read for any Thriller fans!

This book was about an assassin who killed them in and it was witnessed by his daughter and bystander and she continues to try to eliminate all Witnesses throughout the book it was a good book well organized and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys his type book

Orphan X, or Evan Smoak has reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere and risk everything after leaving the Program. He’s faced international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most powerful people in the world and even brought down a President. Now he’s facing an unexpected personal crisis. On this mission, he must go back to the basics, and help a truly desparate little girl help find her missing dog.

What seems like a small job, ballons into one of the biggest missions yet and Evan soon finds himself battered between billionaires and assassins.

In order to survive, Evan must outwit his opponent who will stop at nothing.

This series is a lot of fun, and this new book is no different. I love the narrator, he’s perfect for this role. He brings the characters to life in an appealing and enjoyable way. I enjoy the mix of humor and action that these books contain. The characters show a lot of growth in this book, I enjoyed reading about how they came into their own. While I haven’t read the entire series, I have read several of them and really enjoyed it. They are all able to be read as stand-alone and aren’t dependent on each other, though they would be great all in a row.

If you are looking for a highly entertaining action thriller, then check out this series.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I found orphan X later than everyone else, but I absolutely love these books. I will say at the beginning it took some getting used to the narrator, but now he just makes it even funnier. Gregg Hurwitz is a fantastic writer. Not only can he write a great action scene, but he throws humor into the mix. This book has Evan dragged into finding his niece's missing dog. If you like a book with action and humor, the Orphan X books are great to read or listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gregg Hurwitz and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this advanced copy.

There is nothing more enjoyable than Orphan X performed by the incredible Scott Brick!
This book highlights a lot of personal growth with our usual characters and it’s heart warming.
to be with Evan and Joey as they both are having emotional growth spurts. Evan is really
showing a different side to his heart, and it’s just lovely. Don’t take this to mean he is not out
getting into dangerous situations in his life long quest to help those truly in. need.
Since this is an audio download, I’d be remiss if I did not sing the praises of my most
favorite Narrator, Scott Brick. When I think of Evan Smoak, the voice in my head is that
of Scott. He’s masterful in his portrayals of each character.
I recommend the book and the audio presentation to everyone. My thanks to MacMillan Audio
via NetGalley for the audio presentation of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gregg Hurwitz returns following The Last Orphan (#8) and The Recital (#8.5) with his latest action-packed thriller, LONE WOLF (#9) — his popular Orphan X series that we love so much, his leading man and colorful cast of characters. ACTION-PACKED

THE SIMPLER THE MISSION—THE DEADLIER THE FALL.

Known as Orphan X, X, Evan Smoak, and the Nowhere Man, once a black book government assassin, he left the program, went underground, and reinvented himself to save others when they had nowhere else to turn.

We have followed Evan from international crime syndicates and drug cartels to facing the most powerful men in the world.

There is a personal crisis, taking him back to the basics to help his niece find her missing dog. This is not his usual mission, but this job explodes into his biggest mission yet, which finds him between twisted AI techno billionaires, a mysterious female assassin (much like himself), and more twists and turns pushing him to his limit. (scary stuff).

Evan must take down the assassin, Wolf before she completes her mission and kills the people who can identify her—a teen daughter of her last target and Evan himself.

Who will win in the end? Has Evan met his match?

I have read all the books in this incredible series and enjoyed revisiting with characters from past books. I loved the banter and fun between Joey and X as they worked together on the case. We have seen lots of growth among the characters, and the author keeps the series fresh and clever with each installment.

LONE WOLF is mixed with humor, wit, action, suspense, and drama, a heart-pounding thriller full of twists! Thought-provoking, the author tackles real-life world issues of technology and artificial intelligence.

AUDIOBOOK: As usual, I would not miss an audiobook performance by the dazzling Scott Brick, who makes the characters come alive for a stellar performance.

I highly recommend this series, but you must start with Book #1 and enjoy the wild ride. Highly entertaining.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for both a digital reading/review copy and an advanced listening audio copy for an honest opinion. #SMPInfluencers

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: 02/13/2024
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Feb 2024 Must-Read Books

Series:
BOOK 1
Orphan X

BOOK 1.5
Buy a Bullet

BOOK 2
The Nowhere Man

BOOK 3
Hellbent

BOOK 3.5
The Intern

BOOK 4
Out of the Dark

BOOK 5
Into the Fire

BOOK 5.5
The List

BOOK 6
Prodigal Son

BOOK 7
Dark Horse

BOOK 8
The Last Orphan

BOOK 8.5
The Recital

BOOK 9
Lone Wolf

The ninth installment of the Orphan X series did not disappoint. In Lone Wolf, the Nowhere Man's mission is to find a missing dog, should be easy right? Nope, of course not. Things turn out to be much bigger than that. As usual with this series, you don't 'need' to read the other books before this one, but I think the enjoyment levels are higher if you are familiar with the core characters.

Much like the earlier books in the series, there is plenty of action to go around. Truth is though, I absolutely love this series because of the characters and their interactions, and I definitely got what I was hoping for. I can never get enough Joey and Tommy. I love the way Evan's relationship with them continues to evolve throughout the books. This one has edge of your seat action, unexpected heart and plenty of Joey/Evan humor. It is always fun to envision Evan Smoak, trained assassin and all around bad-ass, learning how to be a normal guy. Evan figuring out how to deal with Joey, which is essentially like having a teenage daughter, is pretty priceless. And while I didn't think the climax of this one was as big or explosive as some past installments, the ending hit hard and I can't wait to see where things go.

Scott Brick, as usual, does an outstanding job narrating. He's a master of his craft.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the audiobook. All opinions are my own.