Evan Smoak (Orphan X) was drafted into the Orphan program after being plucked out of his foster home. He was raised to be an assassin. He extricated himself from the program and now is known as the Nowhere Man, helping people who don't have power to fight against those who do. Yet Evan still lives by the rules and sticks to the code he was taught by the man who trained him.

Evan and Tommy have been friends for many years - as much as men like them can be friends. Until Tommy broke the code. Now Evan sees only one way to answer Tommy's betrayal. But Tommy has answered a call for help by the son of a man Tommy used to serve with. Evan and Tommy agree to a truce to unravel the twisted set of events that led to that call for help. But after that.... all bets are off.

This tenth book of the series starts with some unusual action that lead to the fight scenes we expect. The pace is rapid and the action intense. There are a few distinct storylines winding through each other, eventually intertwining. Through it all, Evan is questioning himself, the way he's been living his life. We are starting to see another side of Evan as his inner inflection continues. He's been noticing his differences from the rest of society, brought into focus mostly as he tries to help Joey work through some seventeen year old girl growing pains.

The story ends with an unexpected twist that hits hard.

This is a riveting story made all the more so by Evan's growing inner struggle. I look forward to the next book to see where Evan's journey leads him.

NEMESIS is an emotional roller coaster!

As with all the books, we have lots of action and a few different, intersecting storylines. But with this book we get a more personal view of Evan, and for the first time we also get Tommy's perspective.

While you probably could get away with reading this as a stand-alone, I recommend reading at least a couple of the other books first. It helps to have a sense of these characters and their relationships.

*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the free copy.*

I think, although I am not sure, that this is my favorite Orphan X novel. Evan Smoak, formerly "Orphan X" and now the "Nowhere Man" has sadly found himself at serious odds with his only adult friend and weapons provider Tommy Stojak. Early on, they meet and Tommy lets Evan know that he should never return to Tommy's place. When Evan does go to Tommy's, the message to stay away is plain. Tommy plans to kill Evan. Evan's issue in the fight was that Tommy sold weapons to a person who harmed innocent people and tried to kill Evan. Tommy's not willing to share his reasons for this behavior, but in talking to Evan, his point of view amounts to, "Just who is the bad guy?" What is moral and what is not. Who is Evan to question Tommy's values? This theme continues in the story that evolve as each of them end up in a little town where some older teenaged boys ran a truck into a Quinceañera" being held on town picnic grounds. They killed several adults and an eight year old boy. There has been close to zero police interest in this crime. Feels like a coverup.

Evan is there in his capacity as the Nowhere man, who brings what justice he can to those who are wronged. In this case it means he will try to solve the crime and bring the murderers to justice on behalf of the little boy's family. Tommy is in town with the culprits, one of whom who has asked for his help. He is the son of a man Tommy served with in Vietnam. He promised his now dead friend he would look after the sone. The boy he is helping lives with a ragtag group of would be white supremacist anti-Islam, anti-hispanic older teenagers with guns who spend too much time on their phones. Tommy seeks to work with them to get those who are accountable to be accountable and those who are not to do better. But none of them will listen to him when he warns them that going after Evan, who is in their way, will cause serious harm or death to them. Thus, Evan and Tommy are in an armed, real life battle about good and evil, each holding deep views of how to help those who have been hurt. Those who have been hurt are a family whose eight year old was murdered and a group of boys who grew up in abusive homes with no good role models, just at the brink of manhood where their beliefs could solidify or … not.

As usual, there are some themes with humor involving Joey, the computer wizard who Evan mentors and works with. They are in a fight because he criticized her for causing a meme to go viral, meant to be supportive to Islamic women, but in fact stereotyping and causing pain to many Islamic women. Joey doesn't like that X is telling her she did something wrong and that she needs to dig deeper before she takes a mistaken or simplistic view of a subject. They are not talking when the new job arises. They agree to work on the murder and only communicate in a businesslike manner. Thus, we follow Joey's continuing "coming of age."

There are many flashbacks in this novel about Jack, the man who served as Evan's handler and trainer in the Orphan X program, making him a killer that he hoped would retain some humanity. The burden on Evan was huge and the relationship complicated. As a result, we are considering the late teenage lives of Joey, of the ragtag group of teenaged boys and of Evan. I liked that juxtaposition very much.

In Nemesis, as Evan and Tommy sometimes talk, sometimes make clear either would kill the other, and sometimes actually communicate effectively, it becomes apparent that a far more sinister force is after one or both of them and steps must be taken.

I love the range of characters, issues they faced and the writing as usual. Remember that Evan and Tommy and that group of boys, as well as the villains who seek to harm some of them, live in a violent world and there is explicit violence in this novel. And I am addicted to Orphan X.

X forever!

Orphan X is that series that is my guilty pleasure. I have been reading and/or listening to it from the first book and I have enjoyed Evan's character arc over the books. It is that reason that I recommend you read this series in order. In this book, Evan finds himself at odds with his oldest friend, all the rules he lives by shatter, and it could end in death. Tommy Stojack crossed the line by selling weapons to child killers. While Evan is trying to find Tommy, Tommy has crossed the US to small town Georgia?? to help the son of someone who he knew in the armed forces. He called Tommy for help stating that he accidentally ran over 3 Mexicans and now they are after him. Now Evan has to follow him across the country. Who is going to survive this one?

Oh my goodness, talk about a moral dilemma. This is one of the most action packed stories so far. My heart rate sped up while listening to this one and I couldn't sleep after I finished it. I was heartsick about the situation between Evan and Tommy and I was worried about how that would play out. You will have to read the book to find out. I liked the message that Tommy was trying to send to "Hick" and his friends. They were extremely racist and he was trying really hard to make them think about their actions and beliefs. There are some issues between Evan and Joey (his sort of foster daughter) and once again Evan had to get her to think for herself and not follow others. This is an extremely topical books with issues that are coming to a head today. Overall, this was a high octane story from the first page to the end and I was engaged all the way through.

Nemesis is the latest book in the Orphan X series, and I'm always impressed by Hurwitz's ability to write a twisty plot while maintaining character growth--not an easy feat. Evan Smoak, world-class assassin, is at odds with friend Tommy, who he's considered his best friend, and who even helped Evan with weapons and combat gear. Mystery has shrouded their relationship, and what Tommy really is, but now, they're dealing with betrayal, and Evan must kill Tommy. The central theme here is that Tommy is both his best friend, but also, now his enemy--and how he deals with that internally and externally. If you've enjoyed the Orphan X series, you'll love this latest addition.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC! I have read all of Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X novels. While this brings the typical story building, suspense, and cast of characters, I felt this was a weaker storyline than others. Perhaps it's simply hard to create more suspenseful narratives with this background story. However, that being said, I still feel it far surpasses many other thriller / suspense authors and stories, and I did read it fairly quickly. In typical fashion, it navigated the storyline with some unexpected twists and turns which I enjoyed. For that, I have given 4/5 stars.

Gregg Hurwitz is one of my all-time favourite authors and I loved this 10th book in his "Orphan X" series!
"No better friend. No worse enemy."
Highly trained former government assassin Evan Smoak has survived for many years by keeping to himself with only a few trusted friends and strict rules he calls "The Ten Commandments". But when Evan suddenly discovers his oldest friend has crossed one of his hardest lines their argument explodes into rage and Evan vows to end him.
There is so much more to this fast-paced thriller with recurring characters that I have become quite attached to. With each book I love this series more and more!
I can't recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is book 10 in the Orphan X series and every time I read these I am impressed that Hurwitz can write new and diverse plots, but keep the majority of the main characters interesting. In this one, Evan Smoak, a trained assassin, finds himself at odds with his friend Tommy. It has taken Evan a long time to even figure out what a friend is, and now that he has, this friend has done the absolute worst and betrayed him-and the only option is to kill Tommy for what he has done.

What i liked:
I enjoyed Joey more in this book. She was not nearly as annoying as the previous book.
It was interesting that the Roam Zone phone did not ring, and Evan just went after this on his own.
I enjoyed the action and twists, as usual.
Moral philosophizing that Tommy, Evan and Joey go through.Lots of hard truths.
Evan is getting more human feelings
The ending was quite a surprise (although there was foreshadowing during the book)

What i did not love:
-The 4 horsemen and their names were super annoying. I wanted to just skip those chapters
-This was a little more gruesome than most of the other books, i found myself skim reading some parts because it was just so outlandish.

This book does not end on a cliffhanger, so it will be interesting to see if this is the last one?

The Orphan X saga continues. This time, it pits friend against friend. Evan is going after one of his only friends for selling arms to an assassin that not only tried to kill him but also hurt innocent people. Evan can't let that stand. This one pulls you back and forth. You don't know who to root for at times. Evan knows what he should do, but he doesn't want to harm his friend. This is a fast paced book and I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Gregg Hurwitz for the opportunity to listen to this book.

4.5 rounded up
I really enjoyed this book in the Nowhere Man series. There is a more dilemma Evan has with one of his few friends. and of course it gets even more complicated as his friends gets pulled into another moral dilemma. What I enjoyed was the character development and perspective. Some of the characters did a very horrible thing but Hurwitz was able to portray them in a way where you are able to understand what took them there. Issues from current day are brought into the book without making it political or beating the readers head with in. the complexity was fascinating to me.

This is such a good series, but this one just didn't work for me. I've come to care about the two main characters, and their behavior didn't feel true to them. It was a little like watching a romcom and wanting to shout at the screen for the couple to just have an honest conversation already. The ending was about what I thought it would be.

There was plenty of violence, but that's par for the course. More cursing than normal. Felt like quite a bit more. The side story featured two characters I like most of the time. And by the way (tiny spoiler ahead), most young people don't bother with cable, and the same person who would be closely monitoring hot water use would not pay for cable he wasn't watching. Minor detail, but it bugged me.

Overall, this one just happened to not be my favorite book in a series that is very good overall.

In "Nemesis," Gregg Hurwitz delivers a compelling and emotionally charged installment in the Orphan X series that explores what happens when trusted relationships are pushed to their breaking point. This tenth entry sees the usually rock-solid partnership between Evan Smoak and his long-time arms supplier Tommy tested to its limits, adding a layer of personal tension that elevates the stakes beyond the typical action-thriller format.

The strained relationship between Evan and Tommy forms the emotional core of the narrative, forcing both characters to confront uncomfortable truths about their history and loyalty. Their conflict adds a fascinating dimension to the story, as Evan must navigate his missions without the steady support system he's relied on for years. This tension between two usually aligned characters creates some of the book's most compelling moments.

While dealing with this personal upheaval, Evan continues to mentor Joey, his teenage protégé, creating an interesting parallel between relationships that are fracturing and those that are strengthening. Hurwitz expertly weaves these interpersonal dynamics with the series' signature action sequences and tactical precision, creating a narrative that's both emotionally resonant and adrenaline-fueled.

The technical aspects of Evan's operations remain meticulously detailed, though the breakdown in his relationship with Tommy forces him to adapt and find new resources, showcasing his resourcefulness and training in fresh ways. Hurwitz's prose is as sharp as ever, crafting scenes that balance emotional weight with heart-pounding action.

For long-time fans of the series, seeing the complicated evolution of Evan and Tommy's relationship adds new depth to characters we've grown to know over ten books. New readers may want to start with earlier entries to fully appreciate the significance of this rift, but "Nemesis" proves that Hurwitz continues to find fresh ways to challenge and develop his characters while delivering the thrills readers expect.

The book serves as a powerful reminder that even the strongest relationships can be tested, and sometimes the greatest threats come from the breakdown of trust between allies rather than from external enemies.

What do you do when your best friend betrays you? And you happen to be a ex-government assassin.

This is a hell of a way to start off the 10th book in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. Evan Smoak, the ex-assassin finds out that his best friend and armorer sold weapons that killed innocent people. In his world, folks that kills innocents must die. But it's a bit more complicated for Tommy Stojack, when he finds himself on the run from Evan and having to keep a promise to a old Army buddy. There's also a strong subplot about Joey, Even's adopted niece (also an ex-assassin in training) learning how to navigate young adulthood.

Hurwitz's writing is sharp and immersive, keeping the tension high and the stakes even higher. The pacing is relentless, with action sequences that will make your heart race, yet Hurwitz doesn’t shy away from exploring Evan’s internal struggles. As a character, Evan is complex—he’s tough but deeply human, haunted by his past actions and his desire to protect those who are vulnerable. This balance between his vulnerability and skill makes him a compelling protagonist, one readers can’t help but root for despite his morally gray decisions.

The pacing never lets up, with plenty of twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned thriller reader on their toes. The stakes feel real, and Hurwitz has a knack for creating a sense of dread and urgency that makes you feel as if you’re right there with Evan, trying to stay one step ahead of his enemies.

Nemesis is a thrilling, thought-provoking, and deeply emotional novel that does everything a great thriller should: it keeps you on the edge of your seat while also making you think about the cost of justice, the weight of guilt, and the possibility of redemption.

Is it possible to fall in love with a storybook character, for I do love Evan Smoek. In this, the tenth outing of the series, Gregg Hurwitz explores the consequences of a man who can't afford friends. When he does have a friend, it seems to backfire and all his rules, his commandments, seem to go by the wayside.

Tommy Stojack, his fried and weapons supplier, has gone over to the dark side, something Evan can't abide by, so there will be consequences. These two strong men will meet in what will seem like deadly combat where one might die and one survive.

Tommy has left town, but not because of his fear of Evan, but to help an old friend's son. Of course the son is in deep trouble and Tommy senses there is good in this by, but with Evan and some others on his trail, he might not be able to help.

Gritty with action both bloody and raw, this story will push the limits on a long friendship, and help both men possibly realize the outcome of authenticity in a friendship.

I have loved al of Gregg Hurwitz's books about Orphan X, but this one seemed a tad slow moving and the talk of weapons seemed to me to bog it down. But I will be back if Mr Hurwitz writes more in the Evan saga.

A thrilling and suspenseful read! Great for series fans and for those new to Orphan X. Full of excellent tactical details, twists and turns, and inner turmoil for the protagonist.

This was my first book in the Orphan X series, so I wasn't sure what to expect! Expect the unexpected! Once I picked this one up, I couldn't put it down. Now I'll have to go back to the beginning of the series and pick them up from the beginning! Great read!

Orphan X! I love this series from Gregg Hurwitz, I do not know how he does it but each book seems even better than the one before! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this book it was absolutely a page turner and very very good!!

This is my first Orphan X book. I know I’m late to the game, but you have to start sometime. I found myself easily picking things up and loving the story even with no previous experience in this world. I do wish that I had more than the minimum experience with the relationships in the series. I may have to go back and read the rest.

This is another brilliant offering in the Orphan X series. It picks up where Lone Wolf ended, Evan preparing to hunt down Tommy for providing weapons to The Wolf. Tommy gets called away when the son of a man who died in his arms calls him for help. The race is on for Tommy to help the boys before Evan comes for him.

What makes this series stand out from others in the genre is the character development of Evan and Joey, the teenage girl he has appointed himself as guardian over. One scene that stands out is Evan’s reaction to holding a baby. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. Joey’s realization that she loves Dog the dog and the ramifications of that is just as good.

The action is outstanding as always and even if you see a couple of things coming, the journey there is exhilarating. My only quibble and where this story loses a star from me is a group of assassins known as The Four Horsemen. The violence and suggestion of violence with them is graphic and gratuitous.

Overall this is an excellent action thriller, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Watch out for that ending.

Not family friendly due to profanity and violence.

A very well-written action piece but I think it's too macho for me. I'll probably finish up the other books in the series that I have but that's all I can do. Good, complicated characters, so if you like that intense action, bad-assery, this is for you. Just not for me.