Orphan X has become one of my favorite action series so I was excited to get an ARC of the latest installment. Hurwitz ever disappoints and Evan was in top form once again. Conflict with his long time friend and armorer Tommy Stojack leads to lots of coflict as they work it out and both of their pasts come back to haunt them and force them to work together to get through it. I was drawn in from start to finish and cant wait for the next one. Highly recommended.

Starting a new Orphan X novel is like opening the Christmas present you've waited for all year. A new installment in a stellar series is like devouring a delicious sweet treat in book form. Once you start, you can't stop.

This reviewer has devoured every novel and short story in the Orphan X series, loved each one, and rated them all five stars--until now. It pains me to say that I didn't love Nemesis as I'd hoped. I guess I've been spoiled by extraordinary. Nemesis is my least favorite Orphan X novel.

I thought long and hard about why this novel didn't resonate with me, and here it is: Tommy takes center stage for a large part of the book, and we read considerably less than usual about Evan Smoak. Tommy is a great secondary character, and I've always enjoyed Evan's interactions with him. As a central character, Tommy is not as compelling. His vernacular, in particular, grows tiresome. His unique way of speaking is fun to read in small doses, but not so endearing page after page.

Tommy is Evan's friend, and perhaps his only real friend in the world. When Evan declares war on Tommy in Nemesis for an infraction only Evan seems to view as logical, my ability to suspend my disbelief broke down. Evan also picks a fight with Joey, his teenage hacker friend who is more like an adopted niece to him than an ally. There are numerous antagonists for Evan to battle, and the cameo return of beautiful but deadly Orphan V is a point of interest.

Gregg Hurwitz works everything out for his readers by the end of the book, of course, and I look forward to future installments in the series. My hope is the next Orphan X novel is another extraordinary five-star read this fan will happily devour.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

When the most dangerous man in the world is angry with you for supplying weapons to people who killed innocent victims, does it make much difference if a psychotic freak who thinks of himself as a god hires an unlimited number of assassins, or will you still be just as dead. Evan has discovered that his greatest friend Tommy has been supplying dangerous people with sophisticated weaponry and that innocent people have suffered because of it. In Evan's mind, Tommy's responsibility is as much as the one's pulling the trigger. Evan lives by his Commandments, it's the basis for him to retain his humanity in the face of what he was trained to become. So Evan is on the hunt for Tommy since that's what the rules he's lived his entire life insist occur. Tommy on the other hand is in over his head with an old teammates son, who's gotten himself into a terrible situation. Tommy's got to figure out how to keep a bunch of racist young kids from making a bad situation even worse, while four of the best assassins in the world are searching to end Tommy. Throw in some bad cops and the Nowhere Man and hopefully Tommy will get a grave under the shade of a nice tree. Evan is locked in on satisfying his code and taking Tommy to task for the suffering of innocents, but then discovers a family of four were killed tragically and Tommy is protecting the killers.
This book spends a great deal of time from Tommy's point of view because Evan's is so cut and dried, he carries his moral certainty around and uses it to isolate himself from the confusion other people wallow in. Joey has problems with making friends at school and the only person Evan can absolutely count on is himself and the opposition is growing by the minute. I love seeing the world from Tommy's viewpoint, he's a first class operator who has his own code and isn't ready to change his for any reason or person. Will Evan be able to decipher Tommy's reasoning and will they be able to come to some kind of understanding or will they be facing fire from all quarters? This novel asks a number of questions that the answers aren't very attractive, and how far are you willing to go to uphold your own code of honor, especially in a world where that's looked on as a joke. In a cold and unfeeling world, being true to yourself is a very lonely place.
These books get better every time I pick up a new edition! I can't wait to see how this will be sorted and will shake out in the end. We basically just have Evan dealing with Tommy and Joey, separately, which gives us a deeper look inside our favorite "family" and makes the conflict harder because of the bond.

The latest Orphan X novel Nemesis finds the masterful black ops assassin Evan Smoak clashing with his long time gunsmith friend Tommy Stojack. Evan feels that rules of honor and have been broken and Tommy Stojack has to answer. Meanwhile Tommy attempts to honor an old promise but finds himself caught in an impossible situation. Behind the scenes other assassins lurk. This novel stretches beyond the usual Orphan X story to explore in more depth how to resolve seemingly unresolvable questions where there doesn’t seem to be a right answer or path forward. There certainly is the usual intensity found in these novels but in Nemesis the author pushes the boundaries of his characters into more nuanced consideration of honor, promises made, and friendship. He expands his story into more exploration of the complexity of modern life, the conflicts present, and that truth doesn’t always lie in what is most easily perceived. An overall excellent book to be savored and enjoyed until the last twist of the plot reveals the surprising truth.

I like the Orphan X series and this one is a great example of the detailed tech and bang-bang of the series but, and this is the reason for the 3* review, the exercise felt fake. WHY really, would Tommy Stojack, his long-time friend and armorer, turn against him so suddenly and so completely. Read and find out.

I am a huge Orphan X fan. Evan Smoak was once a highly successful black ops assassin known as Orphan X. Evan remains dedicated to his unbreakable code of doing good.
But for the first time in his life, those principles have put Evan against his friend, Tommy Stojack.

Stojack has created much of Evan's own weapons and combat gear, has apparently crossed one of Evan's sharply defined lines. When Evan decides to have it out with Tommy, Evan is ambushed by a skilled crew of killers.

In the meantime, Tommy has already left town in order to honor an old promise to a Navy friend who died in his arms. His mission is to help his dead friend's son. And while Tommy is trying to keep him and his friends alive, Evan arrives with vengeance in mind.

But as deadly as the former Orphan X is, Evan isn't even the most dangerous threat to arrive on the scene. There are others who are also a threat to many.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Gregg Hurwitz’s Nemesis is a thrilling and intense addition to the Orphan X series, showcasing the relentless and morally complex world of Evan Smoak. This tenth installment continues to delve into the psyche of its protagonist while delivering a high-octane narrative that fans of the series have come to expect.

The novel opens with Evan Smoak, once known as Orphan X, facing a new and personal challenge. A welfare check leads him to a gruesome discovery: a dead body surrounded by photos of murder victims and a staggering $2 million in cash. This sets off a chain of events that pits Evan against his oldest friend, Tommy Stojack, a gifted gunsmith who has crossed one of Evan’s rigid moral lines. 

 Evan Smoak remains a compelling and multi-faceted character. Hurwitz explores his internal conflicts and the strict code he lives by, adding depth to his persona. Tommy Stojack, as Evan’s friend-turned-adversary, is equally well-developed, providing a nuanced look at loyalty and betrayal. 

Nemesis delves into themes of loyalty, justice, and the moral ambiguities of vigilantism. Evan’s struggle to reconcile his principles with his actions is central to the narrative, highlighting the often blurry line between right and wrong. 

Hurwitz’s writing is sharp and engaging, maintaining a brisk pace that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. His ability to blend action with introspection allows for a balanced narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. 

Nemesis is a standout entry in the Orphan X series, offering a gripping and emotionally charged story that will satisfy both long-time fans and newcomers. Hurwitz’s skillful storytelling and deep understanding of his characters make this novel a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller. With its intricate plot and compelling themes, Nemesis is a testament to Hurwitz’s prowess as a master of the genre.

I don’t think you’d understand a lot of this if you haven’t read a few of u earlier books because in this one, book 10 in the series, Evan Smoak, a highly-trained black-ops assassin, is at odds with the people who he’s helped and have helped him—lethally at odds.

Tommy has assisted Evan with all kinds of weapons and combat gear, but when Evan discovers his friend has armed some very bad people, he wants Tommy to answer for his wrongs. Tommy is busy helping out the kid of a friend in a depressed rural area where poverty, lack of education, and abuse lead white folks to blame people with different-colored skin for their problems. While there are good guys and bad guys in town, there is also a new bad guy and his cronies for Tommy and Evan to look out for.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 11, 2024.

I am a long time reader of this series. This story was confusing for a good part of the book. It was interesting
dialogue with returning characters, but some of them seemed to be less developed than in past books. I am
accustomed to X being the voice of reason~by his playbook, but still. Joey is getting older and is dealing with
growing pains of her own, and her relationship with X is changing. The biggest issue is with Tommy and this
was a little confusing to me, but I read it over again and I get the how and why, but I had to really. look for it .
This does not have to be read in series order~there is enough background information for folks to enjoy our
beloved hero.. Overall I enjoyed this book and as with all of the series, I adore the vocabulary and structure
because I appreciate the challenge that the Author always provides.
My thanks to Minotaur Books via NetGalley for the download of this book for review purposes.

Nemesis is the tenth book in the Orphan X series. I recommend reading the series in order, so you know what is going on. The Nowhere Man, Evan Smoak, grows in each book.
Evan has been friends with Tommy Stojack for a long time. When he is on a mission, he is almost killed by a weapon he knows Tommy made. He must decide if Tommy is guilty or innocent.
Joey, a failed Orphan, is in college is out of sort with everyone, even Evan.
Evan has his rules which he is now questioning. What is going to happen?
There is nonstop action, and the story moves right along. I have read all the books in the series and like them all. This one was not the best but worth a read. Good writing.

I loved this book. You get insight into Joey & Tommy. There’s a lot of emotional content & a sense of honor. Lots of action. #Nemesis #NetGalley

OK, so I love a good action-packed thriller, and this book by Gregg Hurwitz was full of action, however, this being my first Orphan X novel, I believe I was a little lost in the subplots.

So, Evan Smoak aka Orphan X aka The Nowhere Man, seems to be hellbent on meting out justice on his long-time friend and armorer, Tommy Stojack. Tommy has violated Evan’s strict code by supplying weapons to another assassin, but one who does not abide by Evan’s commandments to, “Never kill a kid,” or “Never let an innocent die.”

Evan’s actions reek of sanctimony to me. A killer himself, actually standing in judgment of others who do exactly what he does without remorse. Regardless of the fact that he claims to hold himself to a higher standard by adhering to his rigid set of rules that he forces himself to abide by, in order to retain a clear conscience. The fact that he would go after someone who was considered a best friend, someone who was trusted and loyal, someone he allowed into his ever so small circle, seems extremely trifling on Evan’s part. And, while I could understand the extreme moral conundrum that Evan was facing, I still had a hard time understanding why the friendship could not just be severed versus his feeling the need to kill off a loyal friend simply because of their differing morals.

That being said, Evan tracking Tommy to the small backwater town where the son of Tommy’s deceased Army pal has summoned him for help, seems a step too far. Tommy, honoring a promise to his old friend, attempts to get the man’s son out of a really bad situation in which he and his friend are responsible for the deaths of a young boy and his family. Meanwhile, Evan has learned about this incident with Tommy’s charge and Tommy must now worry about how to keep the kid safe from Evan while also trying to make the situation right.

Aside from Evan tracking Tommy, we also have a four-person team of no-name assassins on his trail. I was very frustrated by the author’s choice to identify the assassins by their familial relation instead of giving them names. I mean, even Assassin 1, 2, 3, and 4 would have been better than trying to follow along with “The One Who Was Her Half Brother,” or “The One Who Was Her Second Cousin.” Really? Give that to us once and then name him or her. Half-brother, Second Cousin, or Nephew would have worked better than that long, overly dramatic name used throughout the book for these characters. And while a book about assassins would be great, this little subplot did not add anything to the story for me. It just served to further confuse me as to why someone would go to such lengths to give another their day of reckoning and then choose to help prevent their death at the hands of another.

And then there’s Joey. Let’s talk about how Joey is dealing with a crisis of her own due to some propaganda that she put out on the internet that is having unwanted repercussions. Now, I will say that I was totally lost on this whole “Joey” ordeal, but why was it even included in the book? The author did try to make a connection here, but I missed it.

All that having been said, I will say that the book was interesting and full of action. I would go back and read the series from the beginning as Orphan X seems to be quite an interesting character. I would like to thank NetGalley for the advance copy and I leave this review strictly voluntarily.

We live in a time that those of us who love great thriller writing as well as great characters, are just giddy with the choices we have before us in our reading pursuits..
We have some guys that have been around for awhile. Robert Crais, David Baldacci, Brad Thor, Ken Follett, Dean Koontz, Harlan Coben, and a few others that are just like an old friend or a cozy pair of jeans.
Then, we have the new kids on the block. Nick Petrie, James Byrnes, Jack Carr, Don Bentley. All great, all well worth reading, and all just plain awesome. But, there is only one Orphan X and his creator Gregg Hurwitz. The continued excellence of this series is one to behold and every year I am just so excited to read the new X book. Book 10, Nemesis, is another great read in this excellent series. You can keep your Collee Hoover and Freida McFadden, and all of the other Walmart staples. This series is an experience.
Nemesis picks up right after the events of Lone Wolf, our favorite dysfunctional and socially awkward assassin is trying to come to grips with an ethical and moral problem involving his only friend, Tommy Stojak. How could Tommy allow bad people purchase his one of a kind weapons. Totally discounting the fact that X, Evan himself, has benefited from Tommy's expertise. In Evan's mind it means war with Tommy. Conflicted and as bad ass as ever, Evan needs closure, even if it means the death of his only friend.
In the meantime, Tommy is trying to help the son of an old buddy from the service who is in a world of trouble. As Evan tracks Tommy across the country to this situation he becomes aware of something that only the Nowhere Man can bring closure to. Even if Tommy is in the way and fights him tooth and nail.
Add into the mix a corrupt sheriff, rampant racism and 4 killers who brand themselves the Four Horsemen who are also on Tommy's trail and you have the makings of one of the best Orphan X novels in recent memory, even though all are excellent.
Just where does friendship end, and what does true friendship mean. You will find out in Nemesis.

WOW! Great Orphan X Story

This is different than the other books in this series. Evan has discovered that his best friend, patriot, and builder of his custom weapons, Tommy Stojack, is now supplying a ruthless gang with their weapons. After an absentminded error during a rescue mission almost cost Evan his life he came to the conclusion that he had to act. In Evan’s mind Tommy’s actions are so wrong that he must confront Tommy and, if necessary, eliminate him.

Then there is Joey, who is going through a transitional phase and seems to be at odds with everyone, including Evan. The story is also complicated by Tommy’s promise to help a fallen friend’s son who has gotten himself in trouble with the law. Evan’s whole foundation is in turmoil and there doesn’t seem to be a easy way out.

Although this story is different from previous books it is a compelling Orphan X story with depth and a new look inside his hidden life. I enjoyed every minute and think you will, too.

Thank you NetGalley, Gregg Hurwitz, and publisher for an advance copy of NEMESIS. This is my unbiased review of the book.

Nemesis is the tenth book in the Orphan X series, one of my favorite series. Evan has a code he lives by and because of it he's at odds with his best friend. Tommy. This book gives more insight into Evan's earlier life and philosophy. I liked the background on Evan but also the way he starts to question some of the commandments he lives by. I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending but I am thankful for my ARC of the book. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for my ARC. (I did pre-order this book but when I saw it on NetGalley I had to request it.)

In each new story in this series, the Nowhere Man Evan Smoak seems to become a little more human. But he still knows only one thing and that is to follow his principles. He is angered at his oldest friend and weapon producer, Tommy Stojack. Tommy has somehow gone against Evan’s code and he wants to kill him. Evan is conflicted, but then someone else is out to assassinate Tommy and Tommy needs to take care of the son as a promise to an old Army buddy. Needless, to say so much going on, and the action never stops. Joey still helps Evan, although she is mad at home and has her problems at college. A lot is going on, but it is easy to follow and although not the best in the series, this is still one great story.

Wicked. This read was just that. I had to cringe and gasp and smile when I read Nemesis. It was a great next in a series. Orphan X is one of my favorite characters and I always love the tasks he has ahead of him. I look forward to the next book and hope it is exciting and enjoyable as this one is.

Every Orphan X book is so good, and this one is no exception. My one and only complaint with these books is that there are sometimes some pretty long extended musings on philosophy in a way I don't necessarily need from my thrillers, but then again, that's kind of a key part of ol' X's deal, so who am I to say no? It's propulsive, funny, fast, and most importantly the line-by-line writing is fantastic. Love it.

NEMESIS is the 10th in the ORPHAN X series. While it is not the best, earlier ones are, it is better than the last few. X an armorer T0mmy Stojack have been friends a long time. But something goes terribly awry for Stojack and X must decide his guilt or innocence.

This was amazing. Start to finish. This is my first Gregg Hurwitz novel but I am immediately going back to the beginning for Orphan X’s full story.