Evan aka Orphan X aka the Nowhere Man finds himself under fire when he visits Tommy, his friend and weapons supplier. Soon the men find themselves on opposite sides of a new situation which quickly becomes deadly. Meanwhile, Joey deals with the consequences of a bad decision.

NEMESIS isn’t the first Orphan X book to exceed 400 pages, but it is the first one to feel long to me. Maybe it’s all the exposition as the characters work through their emotions or perhaps it’s the huge cast or the multiple baddies that Evan needs to deliver his special kind of justice to. So many baddies that some slither away and others get a super short send off.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed getting into both Evan and Tommy’s heads and sympathizing with both of their perspectives on their feud. There’s also plenty of Joey, vodka, and fantastic action scenes. Each of the new characters are beautifully constructed. Many of the issues raised by the storylines are timely and few of my favorite characters from the Orphan X universe make brief appearances. Seeing Evan and Tommy’s “meet cute” fifteen years earlier in the prologue made their feud somehow even more tragic.

I look forward to seeing where Hurwitz takes the series next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Minotaur, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ready to see a very different side to our Orphan X?
Evan Smoak, known to the rest of the world as Orphan X and The Nowhere Man, lives by a certain set of rules and values. Near the top of that list is loyalty. So when Evan feels betrayed by his best friend, Tommy Stojack, he finds it necessary to end the friendship in the most permanent of ways. It’s an unthinkable war between the two friends.

To say the least, Evan has not lived an easy life as Orphan X. Now, facing his Nemesis may be the hardest challenge he’s ever faced.

It’s time for Evan to do some deep soul searching, questioning everything. It’s a fight he never wanted or saw coming. Will the Nowhere Man come out the same by the end?

He isn’t the only one questioning his own beliefs. Joey is struggling as well, trying to find her place in a society fueled by social media and hatred. At age seventeen she is learning some valuable life lessons.

This is book ten of the series. And it’s a new favorite. I love a book that’s not only action-packed but does a deep dive into the character's souls. Gregg Hurwitz delivers big time on both. I feel like I got to see a side of Evan and Joey they’ve managed to keep hidden from themselves and each other.

What’s next for our favorite superhero? I can’t wait to see where Gregg Hurwitz takes Evan (and Joey) next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press

I adore this series and it just keeps getting better and better! The revelation at the end of Lone Wolf carries over into Nemesis with X questioning everything. Is Tommy a good guy? How can X help Joey "be normal"? Figuring it out becomes an exploration of everything Evan was raised to believe. But first, why is Tommy protecting the teens who broke Jack's Eighth Commandment: Never Kill a Kid. And who's after Tommy? All of this and more action than ever!

Thanks NetGalley!

I mean, what can I say? It’s Orphan X! Still love this series as much at book 10 as book 1. This is a great extension of the series and revisiting the same characters. Always a fan! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

Everytime I read an Orphan X book, I think, "this is the best one, can't wait for the next one." This book left me feeling different. It's so incredible, so perfect, so complete, that I just don't know how Gregg Hurwitz can do it again!! I will be the first in line to read it, and see, though! This is a 5 star times 2, edgy, emotional, perfect story. Pre-order, rush out to get it, and plan your day to read until your finished, you will not be able to put it down!

This is by far my favorite series. Action packed and witty. Can't wait until next year for the next installment!

The evolution of Evan Smoak continues here when no greater friends become no greater enemies.

The conflict brewing deep within our favorite assassin adds even more depth to a fully drawn character. I cannot wait to see where this arc ends up! New dimensions tangle intentions and blur lines.

Evan battles multiples enemies as well as himself in this high octane, action packed addition to our favorite series!

Anticipating the next!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of Nemesis. It’s always a treat to have an Orphan X book and, once again, Mr. Hurwitz has delivered an action-packed story. Evan finds himself in major conflict with his armorer and friend, Tommy Stojack for supplying weapons to The Wolf, a psychopathic female assassin who Evan faced on his last mission. He and Tommy find themselves in a kill or be killed face-off throughout the story, held off in pursuit of other matters.

In addition, there is a large cast of characters, some of whom earn Evan’s seeking of his form of justice, and then those who are pretty reprehensible. Tracking all of these characters got a little unwieldy at times. As always, his protege, Joey, provides grounding for Evan and the relationship is one of the things I enjoy about the books.

As much as I like the series and Mr. Hurwitz’ story-telling, I do have some some qualms about this one. The level and forms of violence were over the top for me. It’s tough to close your eyes when reading a book. He can choreograph a scene but, in some cases, it was too much. I still liked this entry in the series but it was not my usual 5 star.

I read this book in 1 night! Why, because I could not put it down.

The story was engaging and Evan's evolving growth as a person made it a winner.

I wish I could give 10 stars.

Gregg Hurwitz never disappoints.

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased review.

A good story and the characters are interesting. I have read a couple of the orphan series. They are well written, but they just don't grab me like some other books. They are good but I seem to be missing something in them.

It's time to bring the Orphan X series to an end. This latest outing is stuffed with political commentary, long character discourses, and just drags plot wise from start to finish. What used to be an action packed series that kept the reader's interest now reads like a recitation of the author's gripes on American society.

OH MY GOSH! What did I just read???? Author Gregg Hurwitz has done it again, hooked me into Orphan X's adventures from page one. But this time, he left me a sobbing mess at the end.

I won't leave spoilers, but fans of the series have to read this book. Evan Smoak continues to grow and develop as a multi-layered character. Just when I think the stories can't get any more fascinating or have me on the edge of my seat, I read the next book and am completely glued to the pages until the story ends.

And this one... You can read the blurb about Evan dealing with Tommy from events in the previous book. They all play out, even as we're rooting for the characters to communicate and let out all their secrets. Which of course, they won't do because of who they are.

This is a tightly written book. No excess, but just the right amount of danger, fast pacing, and awesome character development that has me dying to read the next book. I just... I need to know what happens next!!!

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. It was soooooo good!!!

Gregg Hurwitz has outdone himself with Nemesis, a pensive and explosive knock-down-drag-out of a thriller that will leave you more drained than one of Orphan X’s high-end bottles of vodka after a tough mission. It’s an emotional, action-packed, turning point kind of story that will make you think about friendship, morality, and humanity while enjoying merciless violence and brutal battles to the death.

Evan Smoak is pissed off with his friend and armorer Tommy Stojack, feeling that Tommy has crossed a line and sold weapons to some bad people who did bad things with them. When Evan goes to Tommy’s shop to confront him, he’s ambushed by half a dozen men trying to kill him. They are unsuccessful and now Evan wants to kill Tommy even more than before. Meanwhile, Tommy has traveled to a rural community to help the son of an old Army buddy whose dying wish was for Tommy to look after his kid. And the kid is in a ton of trouble, spouting racist ideology and taking part in the murder of innocent people. Evan tracks Tommy down to this small town, learns about the murders, and determines this group deserves to die along with Tommy. To add fuel to the already white-hot fire, a group of assassins have been hired to take out Tommy. It all comes to a head with a violent collision of forces with the only question being who will survive this deadly encounter of extremely capable operators.

There is a ton happening in Nemesis. The feud between Evan and Tommy takes center stage and is distressing enough to witness good friends on the warpath to kill each other rather than hash things out peacefully. Then add the continuously worsening, gut wrenching details of the rural racist group that Tommy is trying to advise and possibly hold accountable for their heinous actions, imbecilic views and senseless decisions. And then throw in Evan’s “niece” Joey’s crisis born out of good intensions and trying to fit in with a group of women at college, only to find she’s played an unwitting part in a spread of hurtful information. But wait, there’s more. There’s a group of savagely depraved assassins gleefully taking out their targets and setting their sights on Tommy. It’s a lot to take in.

But holy schnikes, it is outrageously fantastic and beautifully executed. Each story line connects with the others and comes together perfectly. Along the way, you’ll feel the full gamut of emotions and have strong opinions on the actions of every individual and what you believe the consequences should be. Additionally, Evan starts to show some vulnerability and cracks in the façade of his Orphan X/Nowhere Man persona. Does it mean he’s becoming more flexible and more human? Time will tell. But for now, it’s more than enough to witness him kicking ass, evaluating his actions, searching his feelings and doing what he does best – helping innocents in need and righting the wrongs they have experienced. Entertaining and intriguing as hell. A brilliant continuation of this exceptional, must-read series.

Another great installment in the series. Great story, and strong, evolving characters. A little too much "rah-rah" Americana. Worthwhile and recommended.

First, I love this series. That said, there was something about this book that was a little lacking. At the end of the last book, I was excited to see the growth in Evan's humanity, but I felt the story took a step backward in this book, but the ending saved it. I am interested in seeing what the next book brings us.

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

I will always enjoy a good Orphan X story! This one seemed a bit lighter on the vodka emphasis (good) but very heavy on morals (bad, in a strange sense). I enjoyed getting a little more from Joey and Tommy. Honestly I would read a whole series based on them.

Overall a solid action, shoot ‘em thriller! These books could all be stand alone, but I recommend reading in order for the strong back story.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For me, X or the Nowhere Man, is a cross between Harry Bosch and Jason Bourne. Like Bourne, X has been trained from early life to be a master assassin. And like Bosch, he shares the perspective that “everybody counts”.

This book deviates slightly from earlier books in the series in that the X’s mission is not passed on from a prior client but develops from X’s own need for justice from past situations and new ones. Justice is served in expected and unexpected ways.

This is a nice addition to the continuing series. If you like the Orphan X series, Jason Bourne, John Rain or similar stories then this will be a fit for you.

Although this is a continuing series, The author does a great job to ensure this book can be read independent of the others in the series.

Orphan X flashbacks to his time of training and how different times of training is impacting his current life. An arms dealer “his friend” seems to have violated Evan’s code of ethics. So how will Evan make this right in his mind and in the real world? This also involves a small town and the influx of new nationalities and the clash of the different cultures. A great book!

Unlike most series where an assassin or former assassin holds center stage, the Orphan X stories rely as much on character development as they do on action. In Nemesis this is especially true as Evan, the Nowhere Man, finds himself at odds with both his mentee and his one true friend. In both cases it is the result of his rigid adherence to his code of morality. The conflict begins as Evan, who now uses his deadly skills only to protect the innocent, realizes his highly skilled armorer Tommy has sold weaponry to some very bad people. The resulting break with the only man he could really trust drives the entire narrative.
It actually becomes a story shown from two perspectives, both Evan and Tommy who is also trying to follow a code of conduct in making his decisions. Throw in a team of totally evil enforcers who are in pursuit of Tommy, and you have a fast paced story from beginning to end.
I’m not sure if author Greg Hurwitz intended Tommy to come across as the more sympathetic character, but his efforts to protect some deeply troubled youths definitely made him more relatable than poor OCD Evan. . I hope Orphan X learned from the conflicts of this story and adds a layer of humanity in the next episode. You can always count on the Orphan X series to provide thrilling deadly action but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little compassion in our hero.

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all the books in Gregg Hurwitz Orphan X series. The plots are well defined, the character of Orphan X/Evan Smoak/Nowhere Man are clearly drawn and the action is well paced. Sadly, I can't say the same fo this latest installment, Nemesis. As readers we've seen Evan Smoak grow as a human over the course of the series, but his moral code of commandments for the work he conducts as the Nowhere Man has stayed a clear black and white. For the first time he comes to a situation where he recognizes that his colleague Tommy Stoject is actually his friend and has violated one of the commandments. There is a subplot to this book, but the main story is a moral one with a lot of perseverating on friendship, morality and all the shades of gray even while violence is the source of the action. Those stories have a place, but it's never taken over the spotlight of the plot in the way it does in this book. It does so to the detriment of the story and the the characters. If the author's purpose was to move along Evan Smoak's emotional growth, I'd suggest he just slow down and let it flow more naturally, as this felt forced and just seemed to take up space with too much and confusing stream of consciousness thinking. Sadly, skipping this book would not leave any reader feeling like they missed something important that wouldn't be briefly mentioned in the next book. Thanks fo NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.